ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Police and Crime Commissioners

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has made any estimate of the number of people aged under 25 who voted in the police and crime commissioner elections in November 2012.

Gary Streeter: It is not possible to analyse voting behaviour by age using official data, because dates of birth are not currently recorded for all electors. The Electoral Commission therefore cannot estimate the number of people aged under 25 who voted in the police and crime commissioner elections in November 2012.
	The Electoral Commission has a statutory duty under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 to report on the administration of elections, including elections for police and crime commissioners. Its assessment will look at the factors that may have affected overall levels of turnout. It will include, for example, whether voters had enough information about the elections and the candidates standing to make an informed choice, and the time of year that the election took place.

PRIME MINISTER

Members: Correspondence

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton dated 28 September 2012.

David Cameron: A reply has been sent.

TRANSPORT

Airports Commission

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department will announce the (a) remit and (b) members of the Davies Commission on Aviation.

Simon Burns: The terms of reference for the Airports Commission, which includes the timetable it will follow and the broad scope of the interim and final reports, and the members of the Commission, were set out in the Secretary of State for Transport's written ministerial statement of 2 November 2012, Official Report, columns 28-30WS. This is available at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121102/wmstext/121102m0001.htm#12110251000012

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Scotland

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has assessed the economic benefits of High Speed 2 continuation to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Simon Burns: The capacity, connectivity and reliability benefits brought about by the Y network will extend far beyond the cities it serves directly. Completion of the Y network for HS2 is expected to enable journey time savings from Edinburgh and Glasgow to London of up to an hour and provide benefits to the Scottish economy of around £3 billion. However, the Secretary of State announced last month that the Department will take forward a study in collaboration with Transport Scotland which will make progress on how best to further boost capacity and cut journey times.

Shipping: Northern Ireland

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) circumstances and (b) piloting arrangements under the terms of the Pilotage Act 1987 were in respect of the collision between the cargo ship Union Moon and the passenger ferry Stena Feronia in Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The circumstances of the collision between the Union Moon and Stena Feronia, including the pilotage arrangements for both ships, are set out in the Marine Accident Investigation Branch report published on 15 November. A copy has been laid in the Library of the House. It is also online at:
	http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2012/stena_feronia_and_union_moon.cfm

West Coast Railway Line

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements made by train operating companies for travel on the west coast main line over the Christmas period in 2012.

Norman Baker: The Department is aware that major engineering works are planned over the Christmas and new year period at Bletchley and other locations on the west coast main line. It is the responsibility of Network Rail, working with the train operators, to manage these works so as to minimise any disruption to passengers, and so far as practicable to secure the provision of alternative services. The planned changes in services have been publicised well in advance to enable travellers to make alternative arrangements if necessary.

DEFENCE

Vanguard Class Submarine

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the main gate decision on the successor to the Vanguard class submarines will be made in 2016.

Philip Hammond: As I reaffirmed in the House on 18 June 2012, Official Report, columns 611-17, the main gate decision for the successor to the Vanguard class submarines will be taken in 2016.

2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the Government's proposals to disband the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Andrew Robathan: The recent Backbench Business Committee debate provided hon. Members with the opportunity to voice their opinions on this issue and some continue to do so. While such debate is understandable and is, no doubt, prompted by the best of intentions, it only serves to increase the uncertainty for serving members of the Regiment.
	We are implementing Army 2020 as announced in July and, while the loss of any battalion is regretted, I am assured that the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers accepts the Army Board decision on this matter and is now working towards a successful merger of the two battalions.

Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the number of apprentices employed by (a) his Department and the public bodies for which it is responsible, (b) the armed forces and (c) the main suppliers of each.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence delivers some 10,000 apprenticeships per year. This figure includes approximately 400 civilian personnel. Although armed forces personnel complete apprenticeships as part of their military training, they are not employed as apprentices.
	The Ministry of Defence is the leading Government Department in delivering apprenticeships. We recognise the important contribution apprentices make to the Department and to the skills base of the nation.

Afghanistan

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of likely UK military commitments in Afghanistan in 2015.

Philip Hammond: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti), and my hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke (Jack Lopresti).

Scottish Independence

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on the potential effect on UK defence policy of Scottish independence.

Andrew Robathan: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on defence matters relating to Scotland. The UK Government's position is clear: Scotland benefits from being part of the UK and the UK benefits from having Scotland within the UK. We are confident that the people of Scotland will choose to remain part of the UK and we are not planning for any other outcome. It is for those advocating independence to explain the nature and implications of an independent Scotland; it is the policy of the UK Government to maintain the integrity of the UK.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the operations on which UK forces have served alongside the forces of other European nations in the last five years; and which countries participated in each case.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not hold centrally information regarding which European nations have been deployed on operations alongside UK forces in the past five years. My officials will engage with EU and NATO to collate the necessary information and I will write to the hon. Member once the information has been collated.
	Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Sir Nick Harvey:
	In my answer to your Parliamentary Question dated 12 September 2012 (Official Report, column 454W) requesting to be provided with a list of all operations on which UK forces have served alongside other European nations in the last five years and which countries participated in each individual operation, I undertook to write to you to provide a fuller answer.
	After further research, it has transpired that it would be of disproportionate cost to provide a comprehensive response to your request. However, provided below is a list of UN, EU and NATO operations and missions over the last 5 years in which the UK has deployed military or civilian staff.
	
		
			 Operation/Mission Date of Operation/Mission Additional information 
			 EUFOR—Althea Since 2004 EU Military Operation—Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia and UK.(1) 
			 EUNAVFOR—Atalanta Since 2008 EU Military Operation—24 member states and 4 third states with ships/planes provided by France, Spain, Germany, Romania, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden.(1) 
			 EUTM—Somalia Since 2010 EU Military Operation—Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Sweden and UK.(1) 
			 EULEX—Kosovo Since 2008 EU Civilian Mission—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and UK.(1) 
		
	
	
		
			 EUMM—Georgia Since 2008 EU Civilian Mission—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia and UK.(1) 
			 EUPOL—Afghanistan Since 2007 EU Civilian Mission—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia and UK.(1) 
			 EUJUST LEX—Iraq Since 2005 EU Civilian Mission—Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the UK.(1) 
			 EUCAP—Nestor Since 2011 EU Civilian Mission—Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, UK, Netherlands and Romania.(1) 
			 EUAVSEC—South Sudan Since August 2012 EU Civilian Mission—Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Hungary, Sweden and UK.(1) 
			 EUPOL COPPS Since 2005 EU Civilian Mission—Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia and UK.(1) 
			 EUSEC—RD CONGO Since 2005 EU Civilian Mission—Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Portugal, Romania and UK.(1) 
			 EUPM—Bosnia 2003 to June 2012 Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.(2) 
			 MONUC/MONUSCO—Democratic Republic of Congo Since 1999 UN Stabilisation Mission—European Contributors of Military Personnel: Algeria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom. 
			 UNMEE—Ethiopia and Eritrea July 2000 to July 2008 UN Mission European Contributors of Military Personnel: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom. 
			 UNOMIG—Georgia August 1993 to June 2009 United Nations Observer Mission. European Contributors of Military Personnel: Albania, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland,, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uruguay. 
			 UNAMI—Iraq Since 2003 Currently no European Countries Participating. (As of 30 September 2012). 
			 UNMIK—Kosovo Since 1999 Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Republic of Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. (Participating countries on 30 September 2012). 
			 UNMIN—Nepal Since 2007 — 
			 UNIPSIL—Sierra Leone Since 1998 — 
			 UNMIS—Sudan March 2005 to July 2011 European Contributors of Military Personnel: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom. 
			 UNMISS—South Sudan Since July 2012 European Contributors of Military Personnel: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom. 
			 Ocean Shield—NATO Operation Since October 2009 EU members that contributed: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom.(3) 
			 ISAF—NATO Operation Since 2001 EU members contributing or that contributed: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.(3) 
			 KFOR—NATO Operation Since 1999 EU members that contributed: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.(3) 
			 Unified Protector—NATO Operation March 2011 to October 2011 EU members that contributed: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom.(3) 
			 Active Endeavour—NATO Operation Since 2001 EU members that contributed: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom.(3) 
			 (1) Correct for week commencing 22 October 2012. (2) Denotes country participation on 2 November 2012, information on past partners is not available centrally. (3) This list does not include countries that are in the process of acceding to the EU or are potential EU candidate members. 
		
	
	Efforts to collate further information from partner nations and international organisations (including NATO and the EU) would require significant commitment and staff time and therefore would incur disproportionate cost. Should you have any specific questions about a particular mission I would be happy to ask my officials to provide further details. Furthermore, I would be delighted to host you in the Department to answer any questions that you may have regarding UK missions and European partners.

Libya

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2012, Official Report, columns 165-66W, on Libya, what the total cost of transporting, equipping and running the ground support for the British forward base in Gioia del Colle was; and how many British sorties were completed from that base.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 5 November 2012
	The cost of transporting, equipping and running the ground support for the British forward base in Gioia del Colle was some £2.7 million. This excludes an element of air transport costs, that totalled some £5.6 million, but the details of which could be provided only at disproportionate cost. These costs do not include normal funded flying hours.
	At its peak, there were 22 aircraft based at Gioia del Colle, from which some 2,050 operational sorties were undertaken by British aircraft.

Military Medals Review

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the findings of the first phase of the Sir John Holmes Medal Review into the National Defence Medal.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 214W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) and the hon. Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling).
	Sir John Holmes has made good progress on the further work he was invited to undertake on the Military Medals Review and this work is being completed in stages. There are not however a finite number of phases of work; Sir John will decide how best to proceed and manage the work.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Housing: Veterans

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many ex-servicemen have (a) made claims for priority housing citing vulnerability caused by service in the armed forces and (b) had such claims accepted in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mark Prisk: My Department does not collect information on the numbers of homelessness applications made to local authorities. It does, however, collect figures on the numbers of households accepted as homeless, including some limited information relating to ex-service personnel. In particular, quarterly P1E returns submitted by local authorities show that:
	(i) During the last three financial years, the number of households identified as being within the priority need category of having served in HM forces are as follows:
	2009-10—30 households of a total 40,020 acceptances
	2010-11—30 households of a total 44,160 acceptances
	2011-12—30 households of a total 50,290 acceptances
	(ii) During the last three financial years the number of households accepted for which 'leaving HM forces' was identified as the main reason for the loss of last settled home were as follows:
	2009-10—120 households of a total 40,020 acceptances
	2010-11—150 households of a total 44,160 acceptances
	2011-12—180 households of a total 50,290 acceptances
	Note:
	1. Figures from section (i) above cannot be added to those from section (ii) because they are the results of breaking down the same total number of homelessness acceptances in two different ways
	2. The above figures are for England only. Homelessness in Wales is a devolved matter.
	These are likely to represent only some of the households accepted as homeless that include ex-service personnel. Other such households are likely to have been included—without being separately counted—elsewhere on P1E returns, within some of the other existing priority need categories (eg old age, mental illness); and under some of the other main reasons for the loss of the last settled home (eg where the ex-service personnel were not in HM forces immediately before being accepted as homeless).
	We secured an additional £70 million last year to help local agencies prevent and tackle homelessness. This includes the £20 million Homelessness Transition Fund to support the national roll out of No Second Night Out, tackle rough sleeping and protect vital front-line services, and the £20 million Single Homelessness Prevention Fund to help ensure single homeless people get access to good housing advice.
	This is on top of the £400 million we are investing for homelessness prevention over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15) which includes £10.8 million to help single people access private rented sector accommodation.
	The Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness published its second report “Making Every Contact Count” in August which focuses on preventing homelessness and includes people leaving the armed forces. A copy of the report can be obtained at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-every-contact-count-a-joint-approach-to-preventing-homelessness
	We are determined to ensure that current and former members of the armed forces gain the housing they deserve, recognising the sacrifices they have made for the country. We have, therefore, introduced measures to place members of the armed forces at the top of the priority list for home ownership schemes, including FirstBuy.
	We are also changing the law by regulation so that former personnel with urgent housing needs are always given ‘additional preference’ (high priority) for social housing; and councils are prevented from applying local connection requirements to disqualify members of the armed forces and those within five years of leaving the services. Following consultation, we are also extending these regulations to bereaved spouses and seriously injured reservists. The qualification regulations came into force on 24 August; the additional preference regulations were laid before Parliament on 18 October and, if approved, will come into force by the end of November.
	We published the final new statutory social allocations guidance on 29 June following consultation, setting out how councils' allocation schemes can give priority to all service personnel, including through the use of local preference criteria and local lettings policies.

First-time Buyers

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the average deposit needed for a first-time house buyer in (a) Liverpool Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England.

Mark Prisk: The Department does not produce estimates of the average deposit needed for first-time buyers in (a) Liverpool Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England.
	However, I can refer the hon. Member to the Council of Mortgage Lenders which estimated in September 2012 that the average deposit for a first-time buyer in the UK is 20% of the sale price of the property.
	The Government's NewBuy scheme aims to help homebuyers who only have access to a 5% deposit.

Freedom of Information

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy that local authorities should either refuse or levy a charge on applications under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which seek to extract information on planning and other matters for commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Local authorities are public bodies in their own right under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and the Department does not interfere with local authorities carrying out their obligations under this legislation. The legislation is 'requester-blind', and there are no plans to change this. It would therefore not be appropriate or practical to charge some requesters and not others.
	The Freedom of Information Act already contains a suitable charging routine and local authorities must abide by this. The recent scrutiny of the Act by the Justice Committee considered the charging regime in some detail, and did not recommend any changes. In particular it recommended maintaining the principle of requester blindness and that public authorities should not be given the power to charge some requesters and not others.
	Ministers have previously received representations from local authorities asking for powers to introduce new charges for freedom of information requests; we have rejected such an approach. If town halls want to reduce the amount they spend on responding to freedom of information requests, they should consider making the information freely available in the first place.
	Indeed, this Government's Open Data agenda seeks to open up public sector information rather than restrict it. The local government transparency code issued by my Department calls for councils to publish a wide range of data in an open and standardised format, for re-use and re-publication by anyone: from individuals, to voluntary sector to commercial organisations. Open and standardised formats allow creative use of data. For example, OpenlyLocal is seeking to build an open national database of planning applications.

Homelessness: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people who are not UK citizens have presented themselves as being statutorily homeless under the terms of the Housing Act 1996 in Peterborough city council area in each year since 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The available information is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Decisions on non-UK homelessness applicants: Peterborough city council 
			  Number 
			 2005 (Q2 to Q4)(1) 6 
			 2006 8 
			 2007 19 
			 2008 35 
			 2009 (Q2 to Q4)(2) 78 
			 2010 147 
			 2011 214 
			 2012 (Q1and Q2) 105 
			 (1) Data were not collected before Q2 2005. (2) Figures were not reported for Q1 2009. Source: Quarterly P1E returns 
		
	
	We secured an additional £70 million last year to help local agencies prevent and tackle homelessness.
	This is on top of the £400 million we are investing in homelessness prevention over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15).
	More broadly, I also refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 6 November 2012, Official Report, columns 543-44W, on housing and immigration.

Land: Public Sector

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether e-PIMS is being used to monitor and report on the accelerated release of public sector land for housing; and whether the database is up to date.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 26 November 2012
	e-PIMS (Electronic Property Information Mapping Service), now incorporates the Register of Surplus Public Sector Land that identifies land held by central Government and their agencies that is surplus to operational requirements.
	Treasury guidance set out in ‘Managing Public Money’ makes it a requirement for all central Government bodies and their agencies to place details of their surplus sites on the register. The register provides a single reference point for all participating public sector bodies and provides a snapshot of the current available national supply of surplus land. e-PIMS is an integral part of the monitoring and reporting framework; however, not all land included in the accelerated programme for public sector land release is on e-PIMS because not all public bodies are mandated to do this. To remedy this we have previously resolved that Departments should record all their land holdings on e-PIMS by 31 March 2013.
	Any Department wishing to dispose of surplus land is required to place that land on the register for a period of 40 working days before the land is marketed. This 40-day period allows Departments to express an interest in new uses for declared surplus sites before the sites go on the open market. An extract of e-PIMS data is made available on a quarterly basis at:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims
	The most up-to-date information is in the July 2012 issue of the register.

Land: Public Sector

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) expressions of interest and (b) formal bids have been received under (i) community right to bid and (ii) community right to reclaim land in England.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 26 November 2012
	The community right to bid provisions came into force on 21 September 2012. An expression of interest or bid can only be made once an asset owner has indicated his desire to sell. It is unlikely at this early stage of implementation that an asset would have reached this point of the process.
	The community right to reclaim land allows anyone to contact local authorities or other listed public sector bodies about land that they own which they see as underused or vacant. Where public landowners take no action a request can be made to Government to exercise their powers under the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980. The process by which this is done is through a Public Request to Order Disposal which allows anyone to request that a specific area of publicly-owned land is brought back into effective use.
	Since the announcement of the community right to reclaim land in October 2011, 14 requests have been received for the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to direct disposal under the 1980 Act.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of exempting all empty properties from business rates for the first (a) six and (b) 12 months after they become empty.

Brandon Lewis: It is estimated that exempting all empty properties from business rates for the first six months after they become empty would cost between £1,040 million and £1,300 million.
	No estimate has been made of the cost of exempting all empty properties from business rates for the first 12 months after they become empty.
	All industrial properties are exempt from business rates for the first six months they are empty. All non-industrial properties are exempt from business rates for the first three months they are empty. Any property with a rateable value of £2,600 or less is exempt from business rates for as long as it is empty. More broadly on the issue of empty property rate relief, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 178W.

Regeneration: Morecambe

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) his Department or (b) the Housing and Communities Agency has been contacted in the last four weeks by Lancaster city council on the redevelopment of the west end of Morecambe; and whether he will place copies of any such correspondence in the Library.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Lancaster city council submitted a bid form to the Department of Communities and Local Government for the Clusters of Empty Homes Funding outlining its commitment to match funding for the scheme. A copy of the application was placed in the Library of the House.
	The Homes and Communities Agency has had no written communication with Lancaster city council about Morecambe West End in the last four weeks.
	The Homes and Communities Agency is, however, having ongoing discussions with Lancaster city council about Morecambe West End, the most recent meeting was on 22 November 2012.

Regional Planning and Development

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential cost to local authorities and local enterprise partnerships of the formation of bids to wave 2 of the city deal.

Mark Prisk: There is no bidding process for local authorities and local enterprise partnerships for wave 2 city deals. Twenty cities have been invited to develop proposals for a city deal working with their local enterprise partnerships and those proposals that will deliver strong local growth will be taken forward.

Temporary Accommodation: Children

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many children he estimates are living in hostels and bed and breakfast facilities.

Mark Prisk: According to returns from English local authorities, 3,670 children were living in hostels (including women's refuges) and 2,990 children were living in bed and breakfast accommodation as at 30 June 2012.
	Statistical releases on statutory homelessness are available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/homelessness-statistics#publications
	We, of course, have serious concerns about the numbers of families with children living in bed and breakfast accommodation for long periods. Legislation remains in place that prohibits the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families with children unless in an emergency, and then for no more than six weeks. We look to local authorities to do more to avoid this and included it as one of the 10 challenges we set local government in the recent Ministerial Working Group Report on Homelessness.
	In addition, I will be shortly meeting London boroughs with the highest number of families in bed and breakfast and other forms of temporary accommodation such as hostels, to discuss what the issues are and how they are going to resolve them.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consideration she has given to introducing minimum unit pricing for alcohol in England and Wales following the recent developments in Scotland and the European Commission in that policy area.

Jeremy Browne: The Alcohol Strategy, published earlier this year, set out the Government's commitment to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol.
	The Government continue to monitor developments and progress in this area and will consider any issues arising alongside thier forthcoming public consultation on the Alcohol Strategy.

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has sought legal advice on the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in England.

Jeremy Browne: The advice which the Government have received on this issue is subject to legal privilege. We do not, therefore, believe it appropriate to disclose this advice (or any summary of it).

Asylum: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the cost of support of asylum seekers to each local authority in the east of England in each of the last three years.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency contracts with external providers to provide support and accommodation for destitute asylum seekers, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act (1999). The agency reimburses local authorities which incur costs in supporting and accommodating children and young people, at rates agreed with the authorities.
	The Home Office holds no information on additional costs—e.g. for education or health services—which local authorities may incur in supporting asylum seekers.

Asylum: Housing

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many units of council accommodation her Department has reserved for asylum seekers in each local authority area in the east of England; for what period; and how many are vacant.

Mark Harper: In the east of England, all asylum seekers are housed in private provider accommodation and, as such, there is no requirement for local authorities to provide housing in this area.

Asylum: Housing

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been housed in (a) the east of England, (b) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (c) each local authority area in Suffolk and (d) England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency has published statistics since 2006 on the number of asylum seekers accommodated under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The statistics include a breakdown of the numbers accommodated in specific regions, local authorities and particular towns in the United Kingdom and are available in “Table as.16.q” (asylum excel tables volume 5). A copy of which will be placed in the House Library.

Asylum: Housing

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on what date the New Asylum Model aim team carried out the goods receipt on the Adelphi System for the R100R report of Kimberley Group Housing for the period 3 to 30 November 2008;
	(2)  on what date the Regional Contract Manager of her Department authorised the service credits, voucher costs and agreed extras in relation to the R100R report of Kimberley Group for the period 3 to 30 November 2008;
	(3)  whether the New Aslyum Model aim budget holder in her Department authorised the goods receipt process to proceed from the R100R reports in relation to Kimberley Group Housing for the period 3 to 30 November 2008.

Mark Harper: The contract held with Kimberley Group Housing Ltd was terminated on 9 January 2009 after it became apparent that the company was not able to meet its trading liabilities.
	The invoice for the period 3 to 30 November 2008 was withheld and consequently normal activities such as identifying any service credits, receipting and authorising services received on the Adelphi System were not necessary.

Crime Prevention

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department allocated, and to whom, through the Communities Against Guns, Gangs and Knives Fund in the latest period for which figures are available.

Theresa May: holding answer 2 November 2012
	In the 2012-13 financial year, £1,966,025.50 was allocated to 196 voluntary and community sector organisations through the Communities Against Gangs, Guns and Knives Fund. Further details on these organisations can be found on the grant administrator's website:
	http://www.grantsadmin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CAGGK2012-13-grants-awarded.pdf

Dementia

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to support the Prime Minister's dementia challenge and the work of each of the challenge groups; what resources she has committed and what timescales she has set for this work; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 19 November 2012
	The Home Office takes all mental illness very seriously. The police are on the frontline and are experienced in dealing with people with mental illnesses including dementia.
	The National Policing Improvement Agency has developed a suite of training products, available to all forces, that provides a consistent standardised approach to mental ill health. The new College of Policing will continue to ensure that officers and staff are trained and sensitive to the particular needs of those suffering from dementia.
	Police officers actively engage with local services and agencies to ensure appropriate service provision in mental health cases.

Disclosure and Barring Service

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of new IT systems at the Disclosure and Barring Service; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: A five-year contract to support the Disclosure and Barring Service was awarded to Tata Consultancy Services on 4 October 2012. The new contract is worth approximately £143 million over the five-year period.

Drug Interventions Programme

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department allocated to each drug action team through the Drug Interventions Programme for each year from 2006-07 to 2012-13.

Theresa May: holding answer 1 November 2012
	The Home Office allocation to drug action teams (DATs) for delivery of the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) in each of the years 2006-07 to 2012-13 is shown in the following tables.
	The figures for 2011-12 and 2012-13 reflect the fact that DIP funding for DATs from 2011-12 has been provided jointly by the Home Office and the Department of Health (via the adult Pooled Treatment Budget).
	
		
			 DIP Main Grant 
			 £ 
			  Resource 
			 Drug Action Team 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Barking and Dagenham 273,407 273,407 277,508 277,508 277,508 
			 Barnet 300,231 300,231 304,734 304,734 304,734 
			 Barnsley 897,348 807,613 819,727 819,727 747,222 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 154,603 134,504 136,522 136,522 135,823 
			 Bedfordshire(2) 404,163 348,484 353,711 1,064,748 1,064,748 
			 Bexley 194,876 194,876 197,799 197,799 197,799 
			 Birmingham 6,124,282 5,287,239 5,366,548 5,366,548 5,366,548 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 313,701 277,625 281,789 281,789 281,789 
			 Blackpool 534,243 472,805 479,897 479,897 456,858 
			 Bolton 1,284,438 1,136,727 1,153,778 1,153,778 1,030,183 
			 Bournemouth 225,487 196,173 199,116 199,116 199,116 
			 Bracknell Forest 113,359 100,096 101,597 101,597 101,597 
			 Bradford 2,415,921 1,926,287 1,955,181 1,955,181 1,914,920 
			 Brent 1,375,289 1,203,160 1,221,207 1,221,207 1,067,849 
			 Brighton and Hove 435,796 384,808 390,580 390,580 324,605 
			 Bristol 3,063,714 2,448,659 2,485,389 2,485,389 2,363,676 
			 Bromley 255,437 255,437 259,269 259,269 259,269 
			 Buckinghamshire 333,981 294,905 299,329 299,329 299,329 
			 Bury 624,066 552,298 560,582 560,582 478,653 
			 Calderdale 909,223 685,101 695,378 695,378 558,844 
			 Cambridgeshire 564,513 359,344 364,734 364,734 362,095 
			 Camden 1,644,816 1,191,678 1,209,553 1,209,553 1,130,350 
			 Cheshire 415,776 367,961 373,480 373,480 345,369 
			 City of London 320,297 320,297 325,101 325,101 274,329 
			 Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly 351,731 306,005 310,595 310,595 310,595 
			 Coventry 1,017,927 900,865 914,378 914,378 914,378 
			 Croydon 1,145,141 1,001,817 1,016,844 1,016,844 911,271 
			 Cumbria 384,131 339,955 345,054 345,054 345,054 
			 Darlington 205,815 182,146 184,878 184,878 174,000 
			 Derby 529,015 468,178 475,201 475,201 427,371 
			 Derbyshire 680,905 602,601 611,640 611,640 611,640 
			 Devon 374,431 325,754 330,640 330,640 330,640 
			 Doncaster 1,464,405 1,317,965 1,337,734 1,337,734 1,177,307 
			 Dorset 182,073 158,403 160,779 160,779 160,779 
			 Dudley 817,455 723,448 734,300 734,300 734,300 
			 Durham 565,730 500,671 508,181 508,181 492,653 
			 Ealing 1,130,246 988,786 1,003,618 1,003,618 1,003,618 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 266,268 226,328 229,723 229,723 220,104 
			 East Sussex 404,264 356,965 362,319 362,319 358,744 
			 Enfield 867,920 759,292 770,682 770,682 737,677 
			 Essex 972,638 826,742 839,143 839,143 839,143 
			 Gateshead 859,541 627,944 637,363 637,363 596,619 
			 Gloucestershire 410,280 361,046 366,462 366,462 343,897 
			 Greenwich 945,549 827,205 839,613 839,613 813,104 
		
	
	
		
			 Hackney 1,730,056 1,513,524 1,536,227 1,536,227 1,471,088 
			 Halton 155,733 137,823 139,890 139,890 136,970 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,428,482 1,118,469 1,135,246 1,135,246 1,015,850 
			 Hampshire 682,162 602,349 611,384 611,384 611,384 
			 Haringey 1,421,448 1,243,541 1,262,194 1,262,194 1,084,962 
			 Harrow 222,376 222,376 225,712 225,712 190,302 
			 Hartlepool 799,327 609,010 618,145 618,145 545,370 
			 Havering 172,767 172,767 175,359 175,359 175,359 
			 Herefordshire 150,647 133,323 135,323 135,323 135,323 
			 Hertfordshire 899,123 768,856 780,389 780,389 780,389 
			 Hillingdon 249,873 249,873 253,621 253,621 218,044 
			 Hounslow 907,872 794,244 806,158 806,158 752,961 
			 Isle of Wight 135,469 119,619 121,413 121,413 121,413 
			 Islington 1,524,022 1,333,277 1,353,276 1,353,276 1,282,243 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,302,366 1,008,137 1,023,259 1,023,259 876,765 
			 Kent 1,303,933 1,151,373 1,168,644 1,168,644 1,132,300 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1,545,674 1,422,020 1,443,350 1,443,350 1,443,350 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 116,026 116,026 117,766 117,766 117,766 
			 Kirklees 1,355,428 1,219,885 1,238,183 1,238,183 1,091,199 
			 Knowsley 250,614 221,793 225,120 225,120 225,120 
			 Lambeth 2,410,728 1,930,537 1,959,495 1,959,495 1,668,566 
			 Lancashire 1,264,957 1,119,486 1,136,278 1,136,278 1,136,278 
			 Leeds 3,132,337 2,737,443 2,778,505 2,778,505 2,612,601 
			 Leicester 1,903,966 1,558,632 1,582,011 1,582,011 1,419,170 
			 Leicestershire 480,924 425,618 432,002 432,002 432,002 
			 Lewisham 1,575,873 1,378,639 1,399,318 1,399,318 1,153,951 
			 Lincolnshire 663,230 586,959 595,763 595,763 541,076 
			 Liverpool 2,584,338 2,154,389 2,186,705 2,186,705 2,026,372 
			 Luton(2) 745,243 700,528 711,036 — — 
			 Manchester 3,368,811 2,848,647 2,891,377 2,891,377 2,510,354 
			 Medway 265,694 234,608 238,127 238,127 227,477 
			 Merton 171,555 171,555 174,128 174,128 174,128 
			 Middlesbrough 1,155,070 1,022,237 1,037,571 1,037,571 960,189 
			 Milton Keynes 185,595 163,880 166,338 166,338 166,338 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 1,458,276 1,290,574 1,309,933 1,309,933 1,219,584 
			 Newham 1,552,032 1,357,782 1,378,148 1,378,148 1,327,290 
			 Norfolk 636,456 569,371 577,912 577,912 567,528 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,168,921 914,255 927,969 927,969 908,599 
			 North Lincolnshire 874,299 786,869 798,672 798,672 652,997 
			 North Somerset 133,764 116,374 118,120 118,120 118,120 
			 North Tyneside 232,422 205,693 208,778 208,778 207,860 
			 North Yorkshire 438,568 364,011 369,471 369,471 369,471 
			 Northamptonshire 1,168,666 1,034,269 1,049,783 1,049,783 962,282 
			 Northumberland 355,521 314,636 319,356 319,356 277,311 
			 Nottingham 2,028,008 1,794,787 1,821,709 1,821,709 1,821,709 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,643,092 2,339,136 2,374,223 2,374,223 2,100,640 
			 Oldham 1,006,209 890,494 903,851 903,851 903,851 
			 Oxfordshire 1,451,071 1,195,115 1,213,042 1,213,042 1,148,092 
			 Peterborough 950,965 774,057 785,668 785,668 691,517 
			 Plymouth 321,150 279,400 283,591 283,591 280,278 
			 Poole 106,035 92,250 93,634 93,634 93,634 
			 Portsmouth 298,688 282,678 286,918 286,918 286,918 
			 Reading 1,253,496 1,106,837 1,123,440 1,123,440 997,603 
			 Redbridge 758,780 663,812 673,769 673,769 630,686 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 316,564 280,159 284,361 284,361 283,347 
			 Richmond upon Thames 124,080 124,080 125,941 125,941 117,484 
			 Rochdale 880,097 778,885 790,568 790,568 698,744 
			 Rotherham 840,071 756,064 767,405 767,405 683,457 
			 Rutland 6,730 5,956 6,045 6,045 6,045 
			 Salford 963,526 771,116 782,683 782,683 665,329 
			 Sandwell 1,246,097 1,003,679 1,018,734 1,018,734 931,025 
			 Sefton 745,537 659,800 669,697 669,697 669,697 
		
	
	
		
			 Sheffield 2,609,071 2,348,164 2,383,386 2,383,386 2,225,433 
			 Shropshire 189,419 167,636 170,151 170,151 170,151 
			 Slough 1,003,023 854,146 866,958 866,958 733,600 
			 Solihull 460,035 407,131 413,238 413,238 413,238 
			 Somerset 364,096 316,763 321,514 321,514 299,268 
			 South Gloucestershire 152,630 132,788 134,780 134,780 134,780 
			 South Tyneside 275,814 244,095 247,756 247,756 247,756 
			 Southampton 348,560 307,778 312,395 312,395 309,205 
			 Southend 192,382 166,947 169,451 169,451 169,451 
			 Southwark 1,892,216 1,655,389 1,680,219 1,680,219 1,559,664 
			 St Helens 260,780 230,790 234,252 234,252 234,252 
			 Staffordshire 728,316 644,560 654,228 654,228 654,228 
			 Stockport 750,488 664,181 674,144 674,144 637,595 
			 Stockton 778,419 688,901 699,235 699,235 699,235 
			 Stoke on Trent 410,832 363,586 369,040 369,040 330,061 
			 Suffolk 520,695 451,164 457,931 457,931 457,931 
			 Sunderland 884,546 782,823 794,565 794,565 744,401 
			 Surrey 627,573 554,147 562,459 562,459 562,459 
			 Sutton 159,878 159,878 162,276 162,276 145,923 
			 Swindon 188,658 164,132 166,594 166,594 166,594 
			 Tameside 930,091 823,130 835,477 835,477 835,477 
			 Telford and Wrekin 196,514 173,915 176,524 176,524 172,525 
			 Thurrock 171,973 150,379 152,635 152,635 152,635 
			 Torbay 242,318 213,239 216,438 216,438 193,192 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,618,189 1,415,658 1,436,893 1,436,893 1,436,893 
			 Trafford 783,160 693,096 703,492 703,492 644,976 
			 Wakefield 1,216,177 1,094,559 1,110,977 1,110,977 1,041,628 
			 Walsall 726,369 642,837 652,480 652,480 652,480 
			 Waltham Forest 1,057,708 925,327 939,206 939,206 792,352 
			 Wandsworth 1,182,107 1,034,156 1,049,668 1,049,668 892,722 
			 Warrington 161,162 142,628 144,767 144,767 144,767 
			 Warwickshire 536,064 474,417 481,533 481,533 417,536 
			 West Berkshire 107,509 94,930 96,354 96,354 96,354 
			 West Sussex 444,392 392,398 398,284 398,284 347,434 
			 Westminster 2,304,818 2,016,350 2,046,595 2,046,595 1,748,504 
			 Wigan 1,182,126 1,046,181 1,061,874 1,061,874 886,599 
			 Wiltshire 248,907 216,549 219,797 219,797 219,797 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 116,869 103,195 104,743 104,743 104,743 
			 Wirral 593,628 525,360 533,240 533,240 533,240 
			 Wokingham 104,370 92,159 93,541 93,541 93,541 
			 Wolverhampton 933,988 826,579 838,978 838,978 838,978 
			 Worcestershire 376,256 332,987 337,982 337,982 337,982 
			 York 225,734 187,359 190,169 190,169 184,591 
			 Wales(4) 6,456,000 6,465,000 6,495,000 6,472,500 5,974,117 
		
	
	
		
			 £ 
			  Total (Home Office) (Dept of Health) Total (Home Office) (Dept of Health) 
			 Drug Action Team 2011-12(1) 2011-12 2011-12 2012-13(1) 2012-13(3) 2012-13 
			 Barking and Dagenham 263,633 96,651 166,982 255,901 88,919 166,982 
			 Barnet 289,498 106,133 183,365 281,007 97,642 183,365 
			 Barnsley 680,619 249,523 431,096 660,657 229,561 431,096 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 129,696 47,548 82,148 125,892 43,744 82,148 
			 Bedfordshire(2) 1,011,510 370,831 640,679 981,844 341,165 640,679 
			 Bexley 187,910 68,890 119,020 182,399 63,379 119,020 
			 Birmingham 5,098,220 1,869,066 3,229,154 4,948,695 1,719,541 3,229,154 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 267,700 98,142 169,558 259,849 90,291 169,558 
			 Blackpool 425,170 155,872 269,298 412,700 143,402 269,298 
			 Bolton 925,333 339,238 586,095 898,194 312,099 586,095 
			 Bournemouth 189,160 69,348 119,812 183,612 63,800 119,812 
			 Bracknell Forest 96,517 35,384 61,133 93,686 32,553 61,133 
			 Bradford 1,812,837 664,607 1,148,230 1,759,668 611,438 1,148,230 
		
	
	
		
			 Brent 947,073 347,208 599,865 919,296 319,431 599,865 
			 Brighton and Hove 279,644 102,521 177,123 271,442 94,319 177,123 
			 Bristol 2,201,213 806,990 1,394,223 2,136,654 742,431 1,394,223 
			 Bromley 246,305 90,298 156,007 239,081 83,074 156,007 
			 Buckinghamshire 284,362 104,250 180,112 276,022 95,910 180,112 
			 Bury 419,771 153,893 265,878 407,460 141,582 265,878 
			 Calderdale 468,450 171,739 296,711 454,711 158,000 296,711 
			 Cambridgeshire 343,990 126,111 217,879 333,901 116,022 217,879 
			 Camden 1,042,787 382,298 660,489 1,012,203 351,714 660,489 
			 Cheshire 319,055 116,969 202,086 309,697 107,611 202,086 
			 City of London 238,768 87,535 151,233 231,765 80,532 151,233 
			 Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly 295,065 108,174 186,891 286,411 99,520 186,891 
			 Coventry 868,659 318,460 550,199 843,182 292,983 550,199 
			 Croydon 820,275 300,722 519,553 796,217 276,664 519,553 
			 Cumbria 327,802 120,176 207,626 318,188 110,562 207,626 
			 Darlington 162,763 59,671 103,092 157,989 54,897 103,092 
			 Derby 387,655 142,119 245,536 376,285 130,749 245,536 
			 Derbyshire 581,058 213,023 368,035 564,016 195,981 368,035 
			 Devon 314,109 115,156 198,953 304,897 105,944 198,953 
			 Doncaster 1,045,932 383,451 662,481 1,015,256 352,775 662,481 
			 Dorset 152,740 55,996 96,744 148,260 51,516 96,744 
			 Dudley 697,585 255,743 441,842 677,126 235,284 441,842 
			 Durham 466,725 171,107 295,618 453,036 157,418 295,618 
			 Ealing 953,437 349,541 603,896 925,474 321,578 603,896 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 207,631 76,120 131,511 201,541 70,030 131,511 
			 East Sussex 340,807 124,944 215,863 330,811 114,948 215,863 
			 Enfield 691,871 253,648 438,223 671,579 233,356 438,223 
			 Essex 797,186 292,258 504,928 773,805 268,877 504,928 
			 Gateshead 552,498 202,552 349,946 536,294 186,348 349,946 
			 Gloucestershire 320,559 117,521 203,038 311,157 108,119 203,038 
			 Greenwich 763,336 281,613 481,723 740,807 259,084 481,723 
			 Hackney 1,377,049 504,842 872,207 1,336,662 464,455 872,207 
			 Halton 130,121 47,704 82,417 126,305 43,888 82,417 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 913,566 334,924 578,642 886,772 308,130 578,642 
			 Hampshire 580,815 212,933 367,882 563,780 195,898 367,882 
			 Haringey 952,022 349,022 603,000 924,100 321,100 603,000 
			 Harrow 166,449 61,022 105,427 161,567 56,140 105,427 
			 Hartlepool 486,107 178,212 307,895 471,850 163,955 307,895 
			 Havering 166,591 61,074 105,517 161,705 56,188 105,517 
			 Herefordshire 128,556 47,130 81,426 124,786 43,360 81,426 
			 Hertfordshire 741,370 271,795 469,575 719,626 250,051 469,575 
			 Hillingdon 192,913 70,724 122,189 187,255 65,066 122,189 
			 Hounslow 694,796 254,720 440,076 674,418 234,342 440,076 
			 Isle of Wight 115,343 42,286 73,057 111,960 38,903 73,057 
			 Islington 1,192,194 437,072 755,122 1,157,228 402,106 755,122 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 767,172 281,254 485,918 744,672 258,754 485,918 
			 Kent 1,069,795 392,199 677,596 1,038,419 360,823 677,596 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1,371,182 502,691 868,491 1,330,967 462,476 868,491 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 111,878 41,016 70,862 108,597 37,735 70,862 
			 Kirklees 971,903 356,311 615,592 943,398 327,806 615,592 
			 Knowsley 213,864 78,405 135,459 207,592 72,133 135,459 
			 Lambeth 1,453,184 532,754 920,430 1,410,564 490,134 920,430 
			 Lancashire 1,079,464 395,744 683,720 1,047,804 364,084 683,720 
			 Leeds 2,424,190 888,736 1,535,454 2,353,091 817,637 1,535,454 
			 Leicester 1,277,726 468,429 809,297 1,240,252 430,955 809,297 
			 Leicestershire 410,402 150,458 259,944 398,365 138,421 259,944 
			 Lewisham 983,839 360,687 623,152 954,984 331,832 623,152 
			 Lincolnshire 493,839 181,047 312,792 479,355 166,563 312,792 
			 Liverpool 1,863,565 683,204 1,180,361 1,808,909 628,548 1,180,361 
			 Luton(2) — — — — — — 
			 Manchester 2,212,011 810,949 1,401,062 2,147,135 746,073 1,401,062 
			 Medway 214,095 78,490 135,605 207,816 72,211 135,605 
		
	
	
		
			 Merton 165,422 60,646 104,776 160,570 55,794 104,776 
			 Middlesbrough 880,601 322,838 557,763 854,774 297,011 557,763 
			 Milton Keynes 158,021 57,932 100,089 153,386 53,297 100,089 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 1,122,895 411,666 711,229 1,089,962 378,733 711,229 
			 Newham 1,246,489 456,977 789,512 1,209,931 420,419 789,512 
			 Norfolk 539,151 197,659 341,492 523,338 181,846 341,492 
			 North East Lincolnshire 862,849 316,330 546,519 837,543 291,024 546,519 
			 North Lincolnshire 556,407 203,985 352,422 540,088 187,666 352,422 
			 North Somerset 112,214 41,139 71,075 108,923 37,848 71,075 
			 North Tyneside 198,340 72,714 125,626 192,523 66,897 125,626 
			 North Yorkshire 350,998 128,680 222,318 340,704 118,386 222,318 
			 Northamptonshire 879,438 322,412 557,026 853,645 296,619 557,026 
			 Northumberland 246,386 90,328 156,058 239,160 83,102 156,058 
			 Nottingham 1,730,623 634,466 1,096,157 1,679,866 583,709 1,096,157 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,876,079 687,792 1,188,287 1,821,056 632,769 1,188,287 
			 Oldham 858,659 314,794 543,865 833,475 289,610 543,865 
			 Oxfordshire 1,070,548 392,475 678,073 1,039,150 361,077 678,073 
			 Peterborough 615,433 225,625 389,808 597,383 207,575 389,808 
			 Plymouth 266,265 97,616 168,649 258,456 89,807 168,649 
			 Poole 88,952 32,611 56,341 86,343 30,002 56,341 
			 Portsmouth 272,572 99,928 172,644 264,578 91,934 172,644 
			 Reading 892,782 327,304 565,478 866,598 301,120 565,478 
			 Redbridge 583,159 213,793 369,366 566,056 196,690 369,366 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 270,144 99,038 171,106 262,221 91,115 171,106 
			 Richmond upon Thames 110,002 40,328 69,674 106,776 37,102 69,674 
			 Rochdale 623,912 228,733 395,179 605,613 210,434 395,179 
			 Rotherham 613,366 224,867 388,499 595,377 206,878 388,499 
			 Rutland 5,742 2,105 3,637 5,574 1,937 3,637 
			 Salford 578,669 212,147 366,522 561,697 195,175 366,522 
			 Sandwell 846,957 310,504 536,453 822,117 285,664 536,453 
			 Sefton 636,212 233,243 402,969 617,553 214,584 402,969 
			 Sheffield 2,053,110 752,694 1,300,416 1,992,894 692,478 1,300,416 
			 Shropshire 161,643 59,260 102,383 156,902 54,519 102,383 
			 Slough 637,938 233,875 404,063 619,228 215,165 404,063 
			 Solihull 392,576 143,923 248,653 381,062 132,409 248,653 
			 Somerset 277,959 101,903 176,056 269,807 93,751 176,056 
			 South Gloucestershire 128,041 46,941 81,100 124,286 43,186 81,100 
			 South Tyneside 235,369 86,289 149,080 228,466 79,386 149,080 
			 Southampton 293,745 107,690 186,055 285,130 99,075 186,055 
			 Southend 160,979 59,017 101,962 156,258 54,296 101,962 
			 Southwark 1,434,549 525,922 908,627 1,392,475 483,848 908,627 
			 St Helens 222,539 81,585 140,954 216,012 75,058 140,954 
			 Staffordshire 621,517 227,855 393,662 603,289 209,627 393,662 
			 Stockport 592,824 217,336 375,488 575,437 199,949 375,488 
			 Stockton 664,273 243,530 420,743 644,791 224,048 420,743 
			 Stoke on Trent 298,389 109,393 188,996 289,638 100,642 188,996 
			 Suffolk 435,035 159,489 275,546 422,276 146,730 275,546 
			 Sunderland 688,149 252,283 435,866 667,966 232,100 435,866 
			 Surrey 534,336 195,894 338,442 518,664 180,222 338,442 
			 Sutton 133,319 48,876 84,443 129,409 44,966 84,443 
			 Swindon 158,265 58,022 100,243 153,623 53,380 100,243 
			 Tameside 793,703 290,981 502,722 770,425 267,703 502,722 
			 Telford and Wrekin 163,898 60,087 103,811 159,091 55,280 103,811 
			 Thurrock 145,003 53,160 91,843 140,750 48,907 91,843 
			 Torbay 174,932 64,132 110,800 169,801 59,001 110,800 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,365,049 500,443 864,606 1,325,014 460,408 864,606 
			 Trafford 589,561 216,140 373,421 572,270 198,849 373,421 
			 Wakefield 963,194 353,118 610,076 934,945 324,869 610,076 
			 Walsall 619,855 227,246 392,609 601,675 209,066 392,609 
			 Waltham Forest 688,787 252,517 436,270 668,586 232,316 436,270 
			 Wandsworth 779,291 285,697 493,594 756,435 262,841 493,594 
			 Warrington 137,529 50,420 87,109 133,495 46,386 87,109 
		
	
	
		
			 Warwickshire 370,790 135,936 234,854 359,915 125,061 234,854 
			 West Berkshire 91,536 33,558 57,978 88,851 30,873 57,978 
			 West Sussex 309,480 113,459 196,021 300,403 104,382 196,021 
			 Westminster 1,521,663 557,859 963,804 1,477,034 513,230 963,804 
			 Wigan 763,116 279,767 483,349 740,735 257,386 483,349 
			 Wiltshire 208,807 76,551 132,256 202,683 70,427 132,256 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 99,506 36,480 63,026 96,588 33,562 63,026 
			 Wirral 506,578 185,717 320,861 491,721 170,860 320,861 
			 Wokingham 88,865 32,579 56,286 86,259 29,973 56,286 
			 Wolverhampton 797,029 292,200 504,829 773,653 268,824 504,829 
			 Worcestershire 321,083 117,713 203,370 311,666 108,296 203,370 
			 York 175,362 64,290 111,072 170,219 59,147 111,072 
			 Wales(4) 5,509,457 5,509,457 0 5,068,700 5,068,700 0 
			 (1) From 2011-12, grants were paid jointly by the Home Office and Department of Health to areas in England. (2) Grants to Bedfordshire and Luton have been consolidated into a single grant to Bedfordshire from 2009-10 onwards. (3) For 2012-13, a total grant of £7,828,438 was paid in London to the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), with indicative amounts for the 32 boroughs, excluding City of London, as listed above. (4) Total grant paid by Home Office to Wales Government for local distribution.

Entry Clearances: Married People

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals applied for a visa to come to the UK after marrying a UK national overseas in (a) 2008, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; and how many such applications were refused in each of those years.

Mark Harper: The number of foreign nationals who have applied for entry clearance after marrying a British citizen in the years 2008, 2010, 2011 are included in the following table. The statistics are broken down by the total number who applied and the number of applicants refused entry clearance in 2008, 2010, 2011.
	
		
			  Endorsement Applications Refused 
			 2008 Spouse/Civil Partner 52,874 8,368 
			 2010 Spouse/Civil Partner 45,543 7,894 
			 2011 Spouse/Civil Partner 33,884 6,040 
			 Note: This data are based on internal UK Border Agency Management Information. They are provisional and subject to change.

Immigration

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants she expects to arrive in the UK from Romania and Bulgaria in the first year after transitional immigration controls are lifted.

Mark Harper: holding answer 21 November 2012
	The Government do not routinely produce forecasts or estimates of future levels of migration from individual countries. The difficulty in producing a reliable forecast of likely levels of migration, which would need to take account of a variety of factors, is in this instance accentuated by the fact that the United Kingdom is not the only member state that will be required to lift existing labour market restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals on 31 December 2013.

Immigration Officers: Training

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent improvements have been introduced to detect stolen or forged travel documents at UK ports and airports.

Mark Harper: Officers deployed at the border are provided with the training, knowledge, IT and facilities necessary to enable them to identify stolen or forged travel documents and individuals who are not the rightful holders of the documents presented. Information and intelligence on trends and techniques are disseminated via regular operational updates and team briefings to ensure frontline officers' knowledge remains current. Specialist trained personnel and managers are always available for further reference purposes and to conduct any additional checks deemed necessary.

Innovation Fund

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department allocated to each local authority through the Innovation Fund in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

Theresa May: holding answer 1 November 2012
	None. The Community Action Against Crime: Innovation Fund for 2011-12 and 2012-13 was not allocated to local authorities but went directly to 268 voluntary community and social enterprise organisations that submitted successful bids to develop new ways of working in local communities to cut crime and improve community safety.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 9 October 2012, with regard to Mr M Asif.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 22 November 2012.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 3 October 2012 with regard to Mr A Mahmood.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 16 November 2012.

National Crime Agency

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department allocated to the National Crime Agency for (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Theresa May: holding answer 1 November 2012
	The Government have committed to delivering the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2013 within the combined budgets of its precursor organisations. The NCA will be a highly visible agency of operational crime-fighters, protecting the public by cutting serious, organised and complex crime. The NCA will have an explicit mandate to lead and task the entire law enforcement response, on the basis of a single, authoritative intelligence picture. Subject to the passage of legislation, we expect the NCA to be operational during the financial year 2013-14. The NCA does not exist as a legal entity before then and therefore no funding has been allocated by me as Secretary of State for the Home Department in 2012-13.
	The financial year 2013-14 will be a transitional year for the NCA. The Serious Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA's) budget (including Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) will form the bulk of the NCA's budget allocated by me as Secretary of State for the Home Department. A budget of approximately £400 million in 2013-14 is indicatively planned for SOCA and subsequently the NCA when it is operational. We expect that the NCA, like SOCA, will have access to other supplementary funding streams in addition to the Home Department's direct grant funding. Budgets transferring in 2013-14 are dependent on the passage of legislation and will continue to develop in line with the evolving precursor landscape.

National Wildlife Crime Unit

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to announce the future funding plans for the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to ensure that funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit will continue at current levels for the remainder of the spending review period; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: Decisions on Government funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit beyond March 2013 will be taken by Ministers later this year.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy that where a police and crime commissioner was elected having stood as a party political candidate there will be a requirement for the commissioner to publish details of all meetings held with representatives of that political party.

Damian Green: The Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011 sets out what information police and crime commissioners will need to publish. This includes details of all public meetings, records of non-public meetings and decisions of significant public interest arising from the exercise of the role of police and crime commissioner.

Police: Disciplinary Proceedings

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has any plans to propose reforms to the system of disciplinary hearings against police officers and to the way in which evidence is given by other police officers at such hearings; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The arrangements for dealing with police officer misconduct are set out in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012. These arrangements are kept under constant review in order to ensure their effectiveness.

Police: Uniforms

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of any need for improved body armour for police officers.

Damian Green: The Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) publishes standards for police body armour. Although we have not seen any armours fail in the UK, the standards are regularly reviewed against operational threats to ensure they reflect the current and emerging threats faced by UK police officers and take advantage of technical innovations in the protective materials industry. CAST is currently reviewing the standards and a new standard will be published early in 2014.

Prostitution

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the proportion of men and women who have been trafficked into the UK who are subsequently sexually exploited; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) is responsible for collating data on potential human trafficking victims. In its 2011 baseline assessment, the UKHTC estimated that there were 2,077 potential victims of human trafficking. This includes 946 victims who were formally referred to the UKHTC for support through the UK's National Referral Mechanism. Of the 2,077 potential victims, 54% were female and 40% were male. The gender of 6% of victims was unknown.
	Of 639 potential victims (31%) were sexually exploited, of which 92% were female, 6% were male and 2% were unknown. 71% of the 639 potential victims were adults, 23% were children and in 6% of cases the age of the victim was unknown.
	A breakdown of referrals by gender and exploitation type can be found at:
	http://www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-the-ukhtc/national-referral-mechanism/statistics

Public Expenditure

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which companies her Department has purchased goods and services of a total value of £1 million or more in each of the last three years; and how much was spent on goods from each such company in each year.

James Brokenshire: The Home Department has purchased goods and services with a total value of £1 million or more with 190 companies in the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 und 2012-13 to date. The names of the companies are listed as follows.
	To separate out the specific spend on goods within the total spend on goods and services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	FY 2012-13
	3M Security Printing & Systems Ltd
	Adare Ltd
	Advantage Technical Resourcing
	Airwave Solutions Ltd
	Amey Community Ltd
	Annes Gate Property plc
	Arval
	ASE Consulting Ltd
	Associated British Ports
	Atos IT Services UK Ltd
	Badenoch & Clark
	Barclays Bank
	Broadcasting Support Services
	C B Richard Ellis Ltd
	Cable & Wireless
	Capita Business Services Ltd
	Capita Secure Information Solution
	Capita Symonds
	Carlson Wagonlit Travel
	Clearel Ltd
	Clearsprings Management Ltd
	CLSH Management
	Cobham TCS Ltd
	Cogent Inc.
	Concateno UK Ltd
	Cripps Harries Hall
	CSC Computer Sciences Corporation
	CT Centre (MOD) t/a DSTL
	De La Rue International Ltd
	Detica Ltd
	DHL Global Forwarding UK Ltd
	Digital Barriers Services Ltd
	Drivers Jonas Deloitte
	DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Ltd
	DX Secure Ltd
	Eamus Cork Solutions
	EDF Energy
	EPIC Performance Improvement Ltd
	Equifax Ltd
	Ernst and Young LLP
	Expotel
	Fincore Ltd
	FR Aviation Ltd
	Fujitsu Services (Alcedo) Ltd
	Fujitsu Services Ltd
	G4S Care & Justice Services (UK) Ltd
	GEO Group UK Ltd (The)
	Happy Homes UK Ltd
	Hewlett Packard
	IBM Direct United Kingdom Ltd
	Interserve Construction Ltd
	Interserve Facilities Management
	Iron Mountain (UK) Ltd
	Jomast Property and Finance Co. Ltd
	KPMG LLP
	Lex Autolease Ltd
	Logica
	Logica CMG UK Ltd
	Magnetic IT Ltd
	Mapeley ABI Provider Ltd
	Methods Consulting Ltd
	Mitie Care & Custody Ltd
	MM Teleperformance Ltd t/a Teleperformance
	Northgate Information Solutions UK
	Northrop Grumman Information
	Orange PCS Ltd
	Pinsent Masons
	Priority Properties North West
	ProcServe Shared Services Ltd
	Reliance Secure Task Management
	Roke Manor Research Ltd
	Savvis UK Ltd
	Security Services Group
	Serco Ltd
	Siemens Enterprise Comm Ltd
	Sodexo Pass Ltd
	Sodexo Property Solutions Ltd
	Specialist Computer Centres plc
	Spring Technology (STSS)
	Steria UK
	Syntegra
	Thales UK Ltd
	TNT UK Ltd
	United Property Management
	VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd
	Wates Interiors Ltd
	YMCA Glasgow
	FY 2011-12
	3M
	Adare Ltd
	Advantage Technical Resourcing
	Airwave Solutions Ltd
	Alro Services Ltd
	Amey Community
	Amtec Consulting Group
	Angel Springs
	Annes Gate Property plc
	AP25 Ltd
	Arora Management Services on behalf of Ap24 Ltd
	Arval UK Ltd
	ASE Consulting Ltd
	Associated British Ports
	Atkins Ltd
	Atomic Weapons Establishment
	Atos IT Services UK Ltd
	Atos Origin
	BAA
	Babcock Nuclear Services Ltd
	Badenoch & Clark
	Barclaycard
	Barclays Bank
	BT—British Telecoms
	C B Richard Ellis Ltd
	CA Blackwell Ltd
	Cable & Wireless
	Canon (UK) Ltd
	Capita
	Carlson Wagonlit Travel
	Citibank International Plc
	Clearsprings Management Ltd
	Cobham TCS Ltd
	Cogent Systems Inc.
	COI Communications
	Concateno UK Ltd
	Cripps Harries Hall
	CSC Computer Sciences
	CT Centre (MOD) t/a DSTL
	D Ford Associates Ltd
	Damen Shipyards Gorinchem
	De La Rue International Ltd
	Dell
	Detica Ltd
	DHL Global Forwarding UK Ltd
	Digital Barriers Services Ltd
	DP World
	Drive Vauxhall
	Drivers Jonas Deloitte
	DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Ltd
	DX Secure LTD
	Eamus Cork Solutions
	EDF Energy
	Elan Computing
	Equifax
	Ernst & Young
	Expotel Hotel Reservations Ltd
	Fincore LTD
	FR Aviation LTD
	Fujitsu
	G4S
	Galliford Try
	GEO Group UK Ltd (The)
	Happy Homes UK Ltd
	Health Management Ltd
	Herman Miller Ltd
	Hewlett Packard
	HRG
	IBM
	IMS (Office Fitting & Design) Ltd
	Inchcape Fleet Solutions Ltd
	Insight Direct (UK) Ltd
	Interserve Construction Ltd
	IPL Information Processing Ltd.
	Iron Mountain (UK) Ltd
	Jomast Property and Finance Co. Ltd
	Kingsley Napley
	KPMG
	L3 Communications
	LA International Consultants
	Lex Autolease
	Logica
	M & Q Properties
	Mansell Construction Services
	Mapeley Estates Ltd
	Mapeley Steps Ltd
	Methods Consulting
	Metropolitan Support Trust (East Midlands)
	Mitie Care & Custody Ltd
	MM Teleperformance
	New Hall Place Unit Trust
	Northgate Information Solutions UK Ltd
	Northrop Grumman Information
	O2 (UK) Ltd
	OCS Group UK Ltd
	Ofcom
	Office Projects Ltd
	OMD Services Ltd
	Oracle Corporation UK Ltd
	Orange PCS Ltd
	PA Consulting
	Paris Apartment Services
	Parity
	Pinsent Masons
	PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
	Priority Properties North West
	ProcServe Shared Services Ltd
	Prudential Property Investment
	Raytheon Systems Ltd
	Reliance
	Roke Manor Research Ltd
	Royal Mail
	Savvis UK Ltd
	Secure Mail Services Ltd
	Security Services Group
	Serco Ltd
	Siemens
	Sodexho
	Software AG UK Ltd
	Specialist Computer Centres plc
	Spring Technology (STSS)
	Steria Ltd
	Steria UK
	Syntegra
	Technical Supplier
	Thales
	The Geo Group UK Ltd
	TNS-BMRB
	TNT UK Ltd
	United Property Management
	VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd
	Vodafone
	Wagtail
	Wates Construction Ltd
	Wates Interiors Ltd
	Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd
	Wyboston Lakes Ltd
	YMCA Glasgow
	FY 2010-11
	3M
	ACPO
	Adare Ltd
	Advantage Technical Resourcing
	Airwave Solutions Ltd
	Alexandra plc
	Alpine Resourcing Ltd
	Altius Consulting Ltd
	American Science & Engineering Inc.
	Amey Community
	Amtec Consulting Group
	Angel Springs
	Annes Gate Property plc
	Arora Management Services on behalf of AP24 Ltd
	Arqiva
	Arval UK Ltd
	ASE Consulting Ltd
	Associated British Ports
	Atkins Ltd
	Atomic weapons establishment
	Atos origin
	BAA
	Babcock Nuclear Services Ltd
	Badenoch & Clark
	Barclays Bank
	Beetham Equities Ltd
	Brook Street
	BT—British Telecoms
	CA Blackwell Ltd
	Cable & Wireless
	Capgemini UK plc
	Capita
	Carlson Wagonlit Travel
	Citibank International plc
	Clearsprings Management Ltd
	Cogent Systems Inc.
	Computercenter HQ
	Concateno UK Ltd
	Cripps Harries Hall
	Crown Relocations
	CSC Computer Sciences
	D Ford Associates Ltd
	Damen Shipyards Gorinchem
	De La Rue International Ltd
	Dell
	Deloitte
	Detica Ltd
	Dover Harbour
	Drivers Jonas Deloitte
	DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Ltd
	Eamus Cork Solutions
	EDF Energy
	Elan Computing
	Employment Plus Ltd
	Ernst & Young
	Fincore Ltd
	FR Aviation Ltd
	Fujitsu
	G4S
	Galliford Try
	Gatwick Airport Ltd
	GVA Grimley
	Happy Homes UK Ltd
	Hays
	Health Management Ltd
	Herman Miller Ltd
	Hewlett Packard
	IBM
	Inchcape Fleet Solutions Ltd
	Insight Direct (UK) Ltd
	Interserve
	IPL Information Processing Ltd
	Iron Mountain (UK) Ltd
	Jacobs Engineering UK
	Jomast Property and Finance Co. Ltd
	KPMG
	Kriminal Varden
	Kronos Systems Ltd
	LA International Consultants
	Lex Autolease
	Lockheed Martin UK Ltd
	Logica
	Mansell Construction Services
	Mapeley ABI Provider Ltd
	Mapeley Steps Ltd
	Methods Consulting
	Metropolitan support trust (east midlands)
	MM Teleperformance
	Morpho
	New Hall Place Unit Trust
	Northern Ireland housing
	Northgate information solutions UK Ltd
	Northrop Grumman Information
	O2 (UK) Ltd
	OCS Group UK Ltd
	Ofcom
	OMD Services Ltd
	Oracle Corporation UK Ltd
	PA Consulting
	Parity
	Pinsent Masons
	Port of Felixstowe
	PricewaterhouseCoopers
	Priority properties north west
	Prudential property investment
	Rapiscan
	Raytheon Systems Ltd
	Refugee Action (Regions—NW, SE and SW)
	Reed
	Reliance Integrated Services Ltd
	Remploy Ltd
	Roke Manor Research Ltd
	Royal Mail
	SAIC Ltd
	Sand Resources
	Savvis UK Ltd
	Secure Mail Services Ltd
	Serco Ltd
	Siemens
	Sodexho
	Software AG UK Ltd
	Specialist Computer Centres plc
	Spring Technology
	Steria Ltd
	Syntegra
	Thales
	The GEO Group UK Ltd
	TNS-BMRB
	TNT UK Ltd
	Tribal
	Unisys Ltd
	United Property Management
	VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd
	Vincent Investment Properties
	Vodafone
	VT Nuclear Services Ltd
	Wagtail
	Wates Interiors Ltd
	WH 101 Old Hall Street Ltd
	Wyboston Lakes Ltd
	YMCA Glasgow

UK Border Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many documents the UK Border Agency has lost in each year since 2009.

Mark Harper: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer parliamentary question 126932.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 November 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26 November 2012, Official Report, column 37W.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Pay

Thomas Docherty: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff (a) directly employed and (b) employed by contractors working for the Commission are not paid the London Living Wage.

John Thurso: The London Living Wage was increased from £8.30 per hour to £8.55 per hour on 5 November.
	The House of Commons is required to keep its pay and conditions broadly in line with those of the civil service. All staff directly employed by the House of Commons earn a minimum of £8.70 per hour (£15,387 full-time equivalent per annum). Commons staff receive a minimum of 28 days annual leave per annum plus bank holidays, and are entitled to paid sick leave.
	The House's cleaning contractor KGB currently pays 166 staff employed in Parliament a base rate of £8.30 per hour. I understand that at a recent staff meeting the company announced an increase in the base rate to £8.55 per hour from 1 April 2013.
	Agency kitchen porters are employed on an ad hoc basis and the agency pays its staff an hourly rate of £6.90 initially. After 12 weeks the rate is increased to £8.94 per hour. As of 26 November 2012 no agency kitchen porters were being employed at the lower rate.
	Our larger contractors including the police and TSO all pay above the London Living Wage. Information for smaller contractors is not readily available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Belarus

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether he plans to raise the human rights situation in Belarus with his EU counterparts at the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe;
	(2)  what recent representations he has made to the Belarusian Government on the human rights situation in Belarus; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) US counterparts on the human rights situation in Belarus;
	(4)  what recent assessment he has made of levels of (a) independent media freedom and (b) human rights in Belarus; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what reports he has received of the level of transparency in the elections to the Belarusian Parliament on 23 September 2012; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: There has been no significant change in the human rights situation in Belarus since the crackdown following the December 2010 presidential election. The authorities continue their harassment of the political opposition, civil society and independent journalists, denying individuals the right to freedom of expression and assembly. One political prisoner was released in September, but 10 remain in jail. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observer mission assessed Belarus's parliamentary election of 23 September to be neither free nor fair.
	The Government constantly monitor the human rights situation in Belarus; Belarus continues to feature as a ‘country of concern’ in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) annual Human Rights Report. In a FCO statement on 26 September, we expressed disappointment with the conduct of the elections, called on the Government of Belarus to work constructively with the OSCE on electoral reforms, and called again for the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners. We make regular representations to the Belarusian authorities in Minsk and London about the human rights situation, in particular about the political prisoners. A senior FCO official raised the case of Andrzey Poczobut with the Belarusian ambassador to London on 20 July.
	The UK strongly supported the establishment of a UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on Belarus. I issued a statement on 5 July urging the Government of Belarus to co-operate fully with this new mechanism. Miklós Haraszti took up the mandate on 1 November and immediately wrote to the Belarusian Government requesting that they enter into an open dialogue with him and civil society. As yet, he has not received a reply.
	The UK continues to work with EU, US and other international partners and groupings to maintain political pressure on the Belarusian authorities. The EU Foreign Affairs Council discussed Belarus on 15 October and agreed to roll over the existing sanctions regime for a further year. The UK discusses Belarus bilaterally with key EU partners on a regular basis. Most recently, I discussed Belarus with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on 2 October, and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed Belarus with Polish Foreign Secretary, Mr Sikorski, in Warsaw on 19 October. In addition there are regular UK/US exchanges of views on human rights issues, including in relation to Belarus.
	The UK regularly contributes to EU discussions and statements on Belarus in the OSCE Permanent Council, such as the 15 October EU statement of concerns about the conduct of the elections, and it will be prepared to discuss Belarus at the OSCE Ministerial Council due to take place in Dublin on 6-7 December. The UK contributed both funds and personnel to the OSCE/ODHIR mission that observed September's parliamentary elections in Belarus.

Belarus

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor the human rights situation and (b) call on the Belarusian authorities to release and rehabilitate all political prisoners in Belarus;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2012, Official Report, column 14W, on Belarus, what representations have been made to the Belarusian authorities on the arrest of Andrzey Poczobut; and what recent reports he has received on the work of the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on Belarus.

David Lidington: There has been no significant change in the human rights situation in Belarus since the crackdown following the December 2010 presidential election. The authorities continue their harassment of the political opposition, civil society and independent journalists, denying individuals the right to freedom of expression and assembly. One political prisoner was released in September, but 10 remain in jail. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observer mission assessed Belarus's parliamentary election of 23 September to be neither free nor fair.
	The Government constantly monitor the human rights, situation in Belarus; Belarus continues to feature as a 'country of concern' in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) annual Human Rights Report. In a FCO statement on 26 September, we expressed disappointment with the conduct of the elections, called on the Government of Belarus to work constructively with the OSCE on electoral reform, and called again for the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners. We make regular representations to the Belarusian authorities in Minsk and London about the human rights situation, in particular about the political prisoners. A senior FCO official raised the case of Andrzey Poczobut with the Belarusian ambassador to London on 20 July.
	The UK strongly supported the establishment of a UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on Belarus. I issued a statement on 5 July urging the Government of Belarus to co-operate fully with this new mechanism. Miklos Haraszti took up the mandate on 1 November and immediately wrote to the Belarusian Government requesting that they enter into an open dialogue with him and civil society. As yet, he has not received a reply.
	The UK continues to work with EU, US and other international partners and groupings to maintain political pressure on the Belarusian authorities. The EU Foreign Affairs Council discussed Belarus on 15 October and agreed to roll over the existing sanctions regime for a further year. The UK discusses Belarus bilaterally with key EU partners on a regular basis. Most recently, I discussed Belarus with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on 2 October, and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed Belarus with Polish Foreign Secretary, Mr Sikorski, in Warsaw on 19 October. In addition there are regular UK/US exchanges of views on human rights issues, including in relation to Belarus.
	The UK regularly contributes to EU discussions and statements on Belarus in the OSCE Permanent Council, such as the 15 October EU statement of concerns about the conduct of the elections, and will be prepared to discuss Belarus at the OSCE Ministerial Council due to take place in Dublin on 6-7 December. The UK contributed both funds and personnel to the OSCE/ODHIR mission that observed September's parliamentary elections in Belarus.

Belarus

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the current (a) visa entry requirements, (b) restrictions and (c) costs applied by his Department's consulate at the British Embassy in Minsk to Belarusian nationals seeking to travel to the UK for the purpose of work or tourism; if he will establish a review of these arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	Application costs and requirements are determined by the immigration rules and fees regulations, whose parameters apply globally. The Government have no current plans to change visa entry requirements for Belarusian nationals wishing to travel to the UK for the purpose of work or tourism. Visa fees were last updated in April 2012. They are reviewed annually.

Brazil

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is planning to have with the Brazilian Government to ensure that the rights and cultural heritage of the indigenous people in Brazil are protected.

Hugo Swire: We regularly discuss human rights issues, including indigenous rights, with the Brazilian Government. We support the Brazilian Government's own efforts to improve the environmental and human rights situation for indigenous peoples, particularly through the EU-Brazil human rights dialogue, and will continue to raise these important issues with the Brazilian Government.
	Under the Brazilian constitution indigenous people have clear rights, including the protection of their cultural heritage and rights to occupy and use their traditional lands. The Brazilian Government's National Foundation for Indians (FUNAI) monitors and supports indigenous people's interests, but recognises that further work needs to be done to protect indigenous rights and ensure effective implementation of these legal frameworks.

Burma

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the prevalence of anti-Muslim prejudice in Burmese society.

Hugo Swire: The recent violence in Rakhine state has once again highlighted the tensions felt between communities in Burma. We have left senior members of the Burmese Government in no doubt about our concerns over the reported human rights abuses. I will again raise these concerns with Burma's political leaders during my forthcoming visit to the country.
	The UK continues to condemn all instances where individuals face persecution or discrimination because of their faith or beliefs, wherever they happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned. There are severe restrictions on the freedom of all religions in Burma, including towards Christians and Muslims, particularly if they are perceived as anti-Government groups. Ethnic minority communities, many of whom are non-Buddhists (eg. the Rohingya and Kachin) are disproportionately affected by the wider pattern of human rights abuse carried out by the Burmese authorities.
	We continue to raise our concerns directly with senior members of the Burmese Government at every opportunity.

Burma

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to verify reports of rape of ethnic Rohingya women and girls by Burmese Government security and military personnel.

Hugo Swire: We have received many reports of human rights abuses in Rakhine state since the outbreak of violence in June, including reports that allege the involvement of Government security forces in the rape of Rohingya women and girls. I am travelling to Rakhine state in December to see the situation for myself.
	Following our calls for an investigation into allegations of abuse in Rakhine state, calls echoed by the wider international community and in particular by the UN Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana, the Burmese Government set up an independent investigative commission to probe the causes of the violence. We welcomed this development but made clear that for the commission to be credible it needed to involve a consultative process with all the affected communities, including the Rohingya. I will again raise these concerns with the Burmese Government during my forthcoming visit to the country.
	The publication of the commission's final report has been delayed so that it can incorporate its findings on the violence of late October. It will be important for investigations into alleged atrocities, including rape, to be transparent and thorough, ensuring that those who have committed crimes are held to account for their actions.

Burma

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether Rakhine and national Burmese Government officials were involved in inciting hatred and violence against the Rohingya ethnic minority.

Hugo Swire: Through our regular contact with ethnic groups and non-governmental organisations we continue to receive reports of human rights abuses in Rakhine state, including reports that allege local security services and Government officials were involved in inciting hatred and violence against the Rohingya ethnic minority. I will travel to Burma's Rakhine state in December to see the situation in the state for myself.
	Following our calls for an investigation into allegations of abuse in Rakhine state, calls echoed by the UN Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana, the Burmese Government set up an independent investigative commission to probe the causes of the violence. We welcomed this development but made clear that for the commission to be credible it needed to involve a consultative process with all the affected communities, including the Rohingya. I will again raise these concerns with the Burmese Government during my forthcoming visit.

Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies on adopting the provisions of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Simmonds: I have not discussed this matter with my counterparts in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Lead responsibility for this policy area rests with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the advance of the M23 rebels into the city of Goma.

Mark Simmonds: Britain condemns, in the strongest terms, the action of M23 in entering Goma, and their movements beyond this town. We have made clear that individuals responsible for war crimes and human rights abuses will be held responsible. We continue to urge those with influence over the M23 to encourage them to stop fighting and to withdraw immediately.
	The Prime Minister spoke separately to the Presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 22 November about the situation in eastern DRC. He used the calls to welcome the joint communique signed by Presidents Kagame, Kabila and Museveni condemning the M23 rebel group and calling on them to pull out of Goma. He encouraged both leaders to do all they could to translate the communique into action. The Prime Minister urged President Kagame to do everything he could to put pressure on the M23 to withdraw from Goma. He made clear that the international community could not ignore evidence of Rwandan involvement with the M23, and that President Kagame needed to show that the Government of Rwanda had no links to the M23.
	I visited Kampala, Kigali and Kinshasa between 21-23 November, meeting the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of each country. With all I made clear the UK's position as expressed in UNSCR 2076 that the M23 must leave Goma.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the influence of the Government of Rwanda on the M23 group of rebels.

Mark Simmonds: As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening) made clear in their statement on 22 November, we judge the overall body of evidence of Rwandan involvement with M23 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to be credible and compelling. The Prime Minister made clear in his conversation with Rwanda’s President Kagame that he should do everything he could to put pressure on the M23 to withdraw from Goma. He made clear that the international community could not ignore evidence of Rwandan involvement with the M23 and that President Kagame needed to show that the Government of Rwanda had no links to the M23. I made the same points to President Kagame when I saw him in Kigali on 22 November. I am encouraged that, over recent days. President Kagame and the Government of Rwanda have engaged fully and constructively with the Governments of DRC and Rwanda, to end the current conflict in eastern DRC and address its underlying causes.

Grants

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) his Department and (b) the bodies for which he is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently operates a number of strategic programmes that involve the provision of grants. These programmes cover the following: Prosperity; Commercial Diplomacy; the GREAT Campaign; Arab Partnership; Human Rights and Democracy; the Westminster Foundation for Democracy; Scholarships; Strategic Communications; Counter Terrorism; Counter Proliferation; Afghanistan; Building Effective Institutions; Overseas Territories; Reuniting Europe; and Future International Leaders. The FCO also runs bilateral programmes in specific countries, and provides the platform for work on Cyber Capacity Building, Returns and Reintegration and the Conflict Pool. These programmes are designed to deliver our foreign policy priorities and to promote UK interests overseas and, as such, they do not award grants in Scotland, or anywhere else in the UK. In addition to the above programmes, the FCO has a number of consular programmes where some funding, for example to support victims of forced marriage, is spent in the UK, including Scotland.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), is responsible for the following non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs): Wilton Park; the British Council; the BBC World Service; the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission; the Great Britain-China Centre; and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The British Council awards grants to: individuals; various schools, colleges and universities; charities, non-governmental organisations and social enterprises; local government, arts, environmental and culture groups; and religious, national and international bodies. The British Council serves the whole of the UK and where grant schemes involve the UK they are also available to applicants in Scotland. The other NDPBs either do not award grants at all or do not do so in the UK.

India

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Indian Government following the recent use of the death penalty in that country; and if he will make representations in support of the abolition of the death penalty.

Hugo Swire: We have not yet discussed the recent use of the death penalty with the Indian Government. However, it is the long-standing policy of successive British Governments to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We regularly make our position clear to the Government of India, both bilaterally and through the European Union, and urge them to introduce a formal moratorium. We will be joining European Union partners in expressing our concerns to the Indian Government over the breach in the de facto moratorium on the death penalty that has existed since 2004.

Middle East

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the use of civilians as human shields by Hamas in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: We are aware of allegations in the media that Palestinian militants have used civilians as human shields. While we cannot ourselves verify such claims, we urge all parties to comply with international humanitarian law at all times. We call on all those involved to de-escalate the situation and avoid any action which risks civilian casualties.
	It is comparatively more difficult to acquire reliable information on human rights in Gaza, than on Israel, east Jerusalem or the west bank. However, we remain deeply concerned about reports of human rights abuses under the de facto Hamas rule in Gaza, including in the current conflict.

Middle East

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of reports he has received on responsibility for rocket fire into Israel from Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: We utterly condemn rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel by Hamas and other armed groups. We have been clear that Hamas bears principal responsibility for the recent crisis.
	The UK welcomes the agreement reached on 21 November to end the hostilities in Gaza and southern Israel. We have urged all sides to uphold their commitments, and paid tribute to President Mursi and the Egyptian Government for their intensive efforts and the leadership they have shown, as well as to Secretary of State Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the role they have played.
	This ceasefire is an important step towards a lasting peace. The priority now must be to build on the ceasefire and to address the underlying causes of the conflict, including more open access to and from Gaza for trade as well as humanitarian assistance, and an end to the smuggling of weapons. Above all, the loss of life over the past week has shown the urgent need for a return to negotiations on a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UK will work urgently with the United States, the European Union, our other international partners, and with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, calling for a new initiative to restart the peace process before the window for a two-state solution closes.

Middle East

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the capability of the Government of Israel to prevent rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: The Israeli Defence Forces have reported that the Iron Dome system intercepted 421 rockets fired from Gaza during Operation Pillar of Defence.
	The UK welcomes the agreement reached on 21 November to end the hostilities in Gaza and southern Israel. We have urged all sides to uphold their commitments, and paid tribute to President Mursi and the Egyptian Government for their intensive efforts and the leadership they have shown, as well as to Secretary of State Clinton and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the role they have played.
	This ceasefire is an important step towards a lasting peace. The priority now must be to build on the ceasefire and to address the underlying causes of the conflict, including more open access to and from Gaza for trade as well as humanitarian assistance, and an end to the smuggling of weapons. Above all, the loss of life over the past week has shown the urgent need for a return to negotiations on a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UK will work urgently with the United States, the European Union, our other international partners and with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, calling for a new initiative to restart the peace process before the window for a two-state solution closes.

Middle East

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) each Minister and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) Arab states and (ii) the Government of Israel on discrimination against Jewish communities in Arab states; what the outcomes were of such discussions; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: The British Government place real importance on the right to freedom of religion for all. We condemn all instances of violence and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their faith or belief, including attacks or discrimination against all religions in the middle east. We have regular discussions with Arab Governments on issues of religious freedom. At the meeting of European Union and Arab League Foreign Ministers in Cairo on 13 November 2012, Ministers underlined their commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, including freedom of religion, and underlined the importance of respect of religious diversity.
	Discrimination against Jewish communities in Arab states is not an issue that has been recently discussed with the Government of Israel although we do regularly discuss instances of official promotion of anti-Semitism by the Iranian authorities.

Middle East

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of (a) meetings of and (b) statements by the Arab League on Israel's response to recent attacks; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: In diplomatic efforts to end the recent Israel-Gaza violence, Arab League Foreign Ministers held a session in Cairo on 17 November where they backed Egyptian efforts to secure a ceasefire. Following the meeting the Arab League issued a statement condemning what it called Israeli "aggression". A delegation of Arab League Foreign Ministers visited Gaza on 20 November to show support for the Palestinians.

Middle East

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the number of occasions on which members of the Arab League have (a) met to discuss and (b) issued statements to condemn terrorist incidents (i) in Israel committed by Hamas and (ii) in Israel and the West Bank committed by (A) Arab organisations and (B) Hezbollah. [R]

Alistair Burt: We are not aware of recent Arab League discussions and statements specifically condemning terrorist attacks against Israel. At the joint meeting of Arab League and EU Foreign Ministers on 13 November, the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their continued support for the Arab Peace Initiative and to a two-state solution; condemned all acts of violence against civilians; and called for full respect of international humanitarian law.

Middle East

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.

Alistair Burt: The British Government are gravely concerned by the recent violence in Gaza and southern Israel and deeply regret the loss of civilian life. We consistently called on those involved to avoid any action which risked civilian casualties.
	We welcome the agreement reached on 21 November to end hostilities. We have urged all sides to uphold their commitments, and paid tribute to President Mursi and the Egyptian Government for their intensive efforts and the leadership they have shown, as well as to Secretary of State Clinton and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the role they have played.
	This ceasefire is an important step towards a lasting peace. The priority now must be to build on the ceasefire and to address the underlying causes of the conflict, including more open access to and from Gaza for trade as well as humanitarian assistance, and an end to the smuggling of weapons. Above all, the loss of life over the past week has shown the urgent need for a return to negotiations on a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UK will work urgently with the United States, the European Union, our other international partners and with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, calling for a new initiative to restart the peace process before the window for a two-state solution closes.

Middle East

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to bring an end to house demolitions in east Jerusalem and the occupied west bank.

Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year, as recorded by the UN, in demolitions of Palestinian properties in east Jerusalem and the west bank. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised this issue with the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) on 9 October. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	In addition we continue to support Palestinians facing demolition or eviction in the OPTs through support to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli legal system.

Middle East

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage Israel to end settlement building.

Alistair Burt: The UK position on settlements is clear: as well as being illegal under international law, settlements undermine the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and those working for a sustainable peace. We have repeatedly condemned Israel's announcements to accelerate settlement building in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including east Jerusalem, and called on Israel to reverse these.
	We look to the Government of Israel to take all necessary steps to prevent settlement construction and we continue to raise this issue at the highest levels with the Israeli authorities.

Middle East

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Israel on the security threat posed by Syria and Iran.

Alistair Burt: We have regular discussions with the Government of Israel on the security threats posed by Syria and Iran, most recently on 1 November at the UK- Israel strategic dialogue meeting.
	In the case of Syria we have imposed sanctions on the Syrian Government which will help prevent any further acquisition and development of chemical and biological weapons. Sanctions aimed directly at a weapons programme will send the message to the Assad regime that we strongly condemn the development, stockpiling, use or proliferation of such weapons.
	Iran poses a range of threats to Israel and the international community. These include the development of its nuclear programme which we believe is a real threat to the security of the middle east and beyond. Iran also provides significant financial support to Hezbollah and to Palestinian rejectionist groups, which directly undermines prospects for peace in the region.
	Our objective on the Iranian nuclear issue remains a peaceful, negotiated solution. We have made it clear to Israel that a real chance should be given to the approach we have adopted: serious economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure and negotiations with Iran by the E3+3 (UK, US, France, Germany, Russia and China).

Middle East

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department took to prevent the build up of arms and missiles in the Gaza area controlled by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas after 2005.

Alistair Burt: Following the end of Operation Cast Lead in 2009, the UK has been actively engaged in international efforts to stop arms smuggling into Gaza. We are an active participant in the Gaza Counter-Arms Smuggling Initiative. This initiative aims to develop an effective framework for international co-operation, supplementary to measures taken by regional states to prevent and interdict the illicit flow of arms, ammunition, and weapons components to Gaza.

Staff

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff his Department employs on the commercial teams in (a) Mauritania, (b) Morocco, (c) Algeria, (d) Tunisia, (e) Libya, (f) Egypt, (g) Israel, (h) Lebanon, (i) Jordan, (j) Iraq, (k) Saudi Arabia, (l) United Arab Emirates, (m) Bahrain, (n) Qatar and (o) Oman.

Hugo Swire: In our missions in the countries in question we have approximately the following number of staff:
	(a) No direct representation in Mauritania, covered by Rabat;
	(b) 80 in Morocco;
	(c) 45 in Algeria;
	(d) 55 in Tunisia;
	(e) 25 in Libya;
	(f) 130 in Egypt;
	(g) 55 in Israel;
	(h) 70 in Lebanon;
	(i) 90 in Jordan;
	(j) 75 in Iraq;
	(k) 140 in Saudi Arabia;
	(1) 155 in the United Arab Emirates;
	(m) 45 in Bahrain;
	(n) 30 in Qatar;
	(o) 55 in Oman.
	These numbers include both UK-based staff and those employed locally. They include staff who undertake commercial duties. For operational and security reasons we cannot provide a more detailed breakdown by function. The data used as a basis for this answer date from December 2011.

Syria

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he made regarding access for international non-governmental organisations to Syrian refugees in northern Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: During his visit to Lebanon on 18-19 November the permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Simon Fraser, raised the question of access for international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to Syrian refugees in northern Lebanon. We understand from international NGOs in Lebanon that their access to refugees in northern Lebanon has recently improved.
	UK funding is supporting the work of humanitarian agencies in Lebanon to deliver assistance to meet the needs of Syrian refugees. The UK is providing £23 million assistance to Syrian refugee populations in neighbouring countries. In Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, UK support is providing food for 23,000 Syrian refugees; clean drinking water for more than 45,000 people; support to UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, to provide a range of services for refugee children including trauma counselling and education; and safe transportation from the border to refugee camps for around 30,000 Syrian refugees who may already have walked for days to reach safety.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the decision by the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to permit performing marine mammals to be held in captivity in the TCI.

Mark Simmonds: This is a matter for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. There are already dolphinariums in three other territories—Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands.
	Any organisation wishing to hold marine mammals in captivity is required to submit their applications to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government who will make a decision on this issue.

Western Sahara

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will (a) raise with the Moroccan ambassador and (b) instruct the UK ambassador in Rabat to investigate the violent breaking up of demonstrations and allegations of beatings and torture in Al Aaiun, Dhakla and Smara during the visit of UN Special Envoy Christopher Ross to Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: We are concerned about the restrictions on freedom of expression and association in Western Sahara, and the allegations we hear about the use of excessive force by the Moroccan security forces. We frequently discuss these issues with the Moroccan authorities, both in Rabat and in Western Sahara. We welcome the steps Morocco has taken to try to address human rights issues, including the visit this year by the UN Special Rapporteur for Torture, and encourage Morocco to continue to work to improve the human rights situation in Western Sahara.

Zimbabwe

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to support British citizens who were illegally removed from their land in Zimbabwe between 2000 and 2001.

Mark Simmonds: We speak regularly with a number of the organisations and representatives of commercial farmers in Zimbabwe, including the Commercial Farmers Union. We continue to provide consular assistance to all British nationals in Zimbabwe, including those affected by this issue.
	The British Government strongly condemn the illegal removal of British citizens from their land, which contravenes the Southern African Development Community ruling of November 2008 and the terms of the Global Political Agreement. We regularly raise this issue with Government of Zimbabwe and urge them to respect the rule of law.

HEALTH

NHS Accountability

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the accountability of the NHS to patients.

Daniel Poulter: This Government are taking significant steps to improve the accountability of the national health service, including creating Healthwatch as the national and local champion for patients and the public.
	The Government are also ensuring that patients are more involved in decisions about services and can feed back on their experiences through the Friends and Family test.

Cystic Fibrosis

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the availability of the Kalydeco form of the drug ivacaftor for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made no assessment of the availability of ivacaftor (Kalydeco), as the decision on whether to provide this medicine for the treatment of patients with the G551D mutation of cystic fibrosis is a matter for the four specialised commissioning groups in the national health service.

Healthwatch

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that the role and purpose of Healthwatch is understood by patients and the public.

Norman Lamb: Healthwatch England has a comprehensive communications plan to raise awareness in a way that gets messages to the right people at the right time, building towards a major launch of the Healthwatch network next April. The Department is funding a project aimed at raising awareness and building the capacity of volunteers and people who wish to contribute to their local Healthwatch.

Regional Pay

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on regional pay in the NHS.

Daniel Poulter: We have been made aware of the concerns of trade unions and constituents about a consortium of employers in the south-west of England.
	Most employers, including the consortium, prefer to use national pay frameworks, and the Department supports the national level talks between trade unions and NHS Employers aimed at ensuring “Agenda for Change” is fit for purpose to protect jobs and in the best interests of patients.

Diabetes: Self Monitoring

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the availability of self-monitoring blood glucose strips for adults with diabetes; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: We have been made aware that some people with diabetes have experienced difficulties in accessing blood glucose testing strips. General practitioners should prescribe these in accordance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency guidance, and clinical need. They should ensure appropriate patient education.

Midwife-based Maternity Services

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for midwife-based maternity services.

Daniel Poulter: It is important for all women to be able to give birth in a safe, high quality environment.
	It is for local commissioners—working with their provider partners and in consultation with patients and the public—to determine the shape of maternity services, including midwife-led units. The Department-funded Birthplace study provides national health service organisations with valuable evidence to inform such decisions so that they can provide the best possible maternity services, based on what women need and want.

Indebtedness: South-east Midlands

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of indebtedness is in each of the five acute service hospitals in the south-east Midlands.

Daniel Poulter: At the end of March 2012, Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust reported debt of £7.5 million, and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust reported debt of £0.5 million.
	For these non-foundation national health service trusts we have interpreted ‘debt’ to mean the amount reported in the Trust Statement of Financial Position in respect of bank overdrafts, current and long-term loans, obligations under finance leases, private finance initiative and Local Improvement Finance Trust arrangements.
	For foundation trusts, Monitor confirms that at the end of March 2012, Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust reported debt of £20.3 million, Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust reported debt of £10.9 million, and Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust report debt of £12.6 million.

Autism

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support measures are in place for children with autism once they have left secondary school.

Daniel Poulter: The Government are committed to ensuring young people with autism are properly supported on leaving school. We have recently issued an action plan with a number of measures to increase the accessibility of apprenticeships for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities.
	The Government Autism Strategy includes activity to increase the number of adults with autism in work. We have introduced the Work programme which provides personalised back to work support for unemployed people including disabled people; and set up Work Choice which provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment find and stay in work.
	The Mandate for the NHS gives the NHS Commissioning Board the objective of ensuring clinical commissioning groups work with local authorities to ensure that vulnerable people, particularly those with learning disabilities and autism, receive safe, appropriate, high quality care. From 2014, where necessary, young people (up to the age of 25) with special educational needs, which would include autism, will have an Education, Health and Care plan, setting out the support from the three sectors. Local authorities and local health bodies will be required to work together to plan and commission services jointly, helping to improve outcomes, including future employment and independent living, and managing the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Blood: Contamination

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has considered extending his compensation scheme for sufferers of bleeding disorders who received contaminated blood announced in January 2011, to those infected at various levels of illness, but not classed as severely ill.

Anna Soubry: Currently, there are no plans to extend the schemes of ex gratia financial support for those infected through treatment with blood or blood products supplied by the national health service. However, the Department has committed to keep under review new published studies on the natural history of hepatitis C infection in order that decisions about levels of financial support continue to be informed by evidence. The expert Advisory Group on Hepatitis will assess new evidence and publish its advice.

Blood: Contamination

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to compensate people who received contaminated blood and are suffering from consequences other than HIV and hepatitis C.

Anna Soubry: There are no plans to introduce any financial support schemes for those treated with contaminated blood or blood products supplied by the national health service, beyond those already in place to support people infected with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C.
	The vCJD Trust compensates any individuals who may have suffered on the balance of probabilities from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), and their families, irrespective of how the disease was contracted, and were resident in the United Kingdom for five years between 1982 and 1996.

Carers

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) criteria and (b) assessment process is for awarding the additional £400 million available to the NHS from 2011 to 2015 to provide carers with breaks from their caring to sustain their role; and when that funding will be made available within that period.

Norman Lamb: The funding has been made available in primary care trust (PCT) baseline allocations since April 2011. It has been a matter for PCTs to manage their budgets and make decisions about how best to meet the health needs of their local population.
	From 2013-14, the allocation of resources to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will be a matter for the NHS Commissioning Board. As set out in the mandate to the Board, the Government expects the principle of ensuring equal access for equal need to be at the heart of the Board's approach to allocating budgets.
	It will be for CCGs to decide spending on carers breaks in line with the requirements of the mandate.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Donors

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons patients with myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome and post-viral fatigue syndrome have been prevented from being tissue donors since 2007; and for what reasons recipients of tissue donations from such patients were deemed to be at risk.

Anna Soubry: People with myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome and post-viral fatigue syndrome can donate tissues once their symptoms have resolved. Recipients of tissue donations from such patients have not been deemed to be at risk by the Joint Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC). However, the causes of these conditions are unknown and so a precautionary approach is taken.
	Guidelines on the selection of donors are set by JPAC, which includes representation of all four UK Blood Transfusion services and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Guidelines are regularly reviewed and should more information on the causes of these conditions emerge it would be taken into account in reviewing eligibility for donation prior to symptoms of the conditions having resolved.

Dental Health: Children

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure (a) Public Health England and (b) the NHS Commissioning Board are resourced to work collaboratively with local authorities on tooth decay in young children;
	(2)  what plans he has to raise awareness of tooth decay in children from deprived backgrounds in England; and whether he plans to develop a scheme similar to Childsmile and Designed to Smile.

Daniel Poulter: Surveys of child dental health show that, between 1973 and 2009, the number of 12-year-old children free of tooth decay increased from 7% to 66% of the population in that age group. However, significant inequalities remain which we are resolved to address.
	From April 2013 local authorities will lead on improving public health including oral health promotion with advice from Public Health England (PHE). We are arranging for the resources, which primary care trusts currently allocate to oral health promotion to be transferred to PHE and local authorities as appropriate. To aid performance monitoring, we have included rates of dental decay among five-year-old children as an outcome measure in our public health outcomes framework. We are also committed to introducing a new national dental contract to be managed by the NHS Commissioning Board. The new contract will be based on capitation, registration and quality, with the aim of improving oral health, especially that of children. In this connection we are piloting schemes, similar to Childsmile and Designed to Smile, which aim to improve the access of families to young children to dental practices and draw on the experience from the Department's Brushing for Life scheme through which they are encouraged to brush regularly with fluoride toothpaste.

Dental Services

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure capitation fees paid to salaried dentists participating in the second stage of the NHS dental contract pilot scheme will reflect the complexity and difficulty of providing treatment for patients of salaried dentists.

Daniel Poulter: Capitation fees will not be paid to salaried service pilots in 2013-14. There are three types of pilot remuneration. In type 1 pilots are remunerated on the basis of their existing contract value. Type 2 and 3 pilots test a simulation of capitation. Salaried services pilots will follow the type 1 pilot approach to remuneration in 2013-14. The first goal for the salaried service pilots is to understand how well the pilot approach meets the needs of the more complex case mix typically seen in salaried services, using the pathway approach together with the existing British Dental Association Case Mix Tool.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the duties he undertook to raise awareness of diabetes on World Diabetes Day on 14 November 2012.

Daniel Poulter: This year No. 10 Downing street was lit in blue to support World Diabetes Day campaign. In addition, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), participated in a radio broadcast on Sabras radio station (whose target audience is the South Asian population) to raise awareness about diabetes.

Eyesight: Testing

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Harrow Primary Care Trust area received (a) glasses and (b) eye tests funded by the NHS in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The information is not available in the format requested. Under the national health service optical voucher scheme, patients are given NHS optical vouchers to put towards buying their own choice of spectacles, having new lenses fitted to existing frames or to put towards the cost of contact lenses.
	The following table shows the number of NHS sight tests undertaken and the number of NHS optical vouchers processed in the Harrow primary care trust area in each of the specified years.
	
		
			 Harrow primary care trust area 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Total NHS sight tests 53,326 55,817 
			 Total NHS vouchers processed 25,961 27,835 
			 Source: General Ophthalmic Services Activity Statistics—England, 2011-12, available on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website at: www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/gosactivity1112

Food: Nitrogen

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring in tighter controls on the use of liquid nitrogen in drinks and food.

Anna Soubry: Existing legislation prohibits the sale of unsafe food and drink in the UK. There is a current investigation following a serious incident. When that is concluded, Government Departments with an interest in this area will consider whether further guidance is necessary.

General Practitioners: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were received by each primary care trust area in London about GPs not offering an appointment to their patients within 48 hours in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not centrally held. The hon. Member may wish to contact local national health service organisations in London for further information.

General Practitioners: Telephone Services

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that guidelines to ensure that GP surgeries do not enter new contracts with 0844 numbers even if a geographic alternative is provided are followed; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department published “Directions to the National Health Service” on the use of 084 numbers in December 2009, stating that they may only be used when they do not charge patients more than the cost of an equivalent call to a geographic number. Further guidance was also published in February 2012, stating that it remains the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that general practitioner practices are compliant with these directions.

General Practitioners: Telephone Services

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to enable local authorities to implement the guidance issued by his Department on the use of 0844 telephone numbers for GP surgeries.

Daniel Poulter: Local authorities are not responsible for commissioning primary care, and are not covered by the directions to the national health service on the use of 084 numbers, published in December 2009.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men and (b) women of each age have been admitted to hospital with genito-urinary injuries in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: The information held by the Department on this issue is in the following table. The term ‘genito-urinary injury’ does not exist in the ICD-10 Classification and the table instead includes codes which are used to classify injuries to specific genital and urinary system organs.
	The table shows finished admission episodes for males and females aggregated by quinary age groups for the years 2007-08 to 2011-12. The figures refer to the number of episodes where a person was admitted to hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis that indicated one of the specified injuries to the genital and urinary organs. It is not a count of people diagnosed with these injuries as the same person may have had more than one episode per year.
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes (FAEs)(1) with a named primary or secondary diagnosis of genito-urinary injury(2) for males and females for the years 2007-08 to 2011-12(3)—Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Age group Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 All ages 1,029 376 1,062 410 1,214 541 1,324 599 1,516 560 
			 0-4 10 5 13 6 8 2 14 11 15 6 
			 5-9 17 10 22 10 18 17 23 12 23 18 
			 10-14 75 14 64 18 68 18 56 17 65 8 
			 15-19 162 40 151 27 153 32 146 43 154 34 
			 20-24 131 42 123 33 120 36 142 30 138 40 
			 25-29 89 27 79 30 100 37 87 28 111 31 
			 30-34 56 23 68 34 78 38 60 50 93 28 
			 35-39 65 34 62 35 71 38 73 40 80 47 
			 40-44 66 46 65 47 69 54 77 45 91 41 
			 45-49 43 35 52 28 66 36 67 43 87 40 
			 50-54 37 11 44 29 48 22 61 30 64 32 
			 55-59 34 16 25 18 53 35 56 21 51 20 
			 60-64 29 14 42 17 43 28 66 29 72 25 
			 65-69 29 9 24 16 38 28 62 26 56 32 
			 70-74 44 11 50 17 53 28 62 32 66 21 
			 75-79 40 10 53 17 72 34 79 42 82 37 
			 80-84 54 13 54 10 66 27 83 29 118 31 
			 85-89 25 10 50 11 58 18 70 32 87 32 
			 90+ 22 3 19 5 31 12 38 38 58 28 
			 Age unknown 1 3 2 2 1 1 2 1 5 9 
			 (1) Finished admission episodes (FAEs). A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary or secondary diagnosis The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. ICD-10 Codes used: S37.0—Injury of kidney S37.1—Injury of ureter S37.2—Injury of bladder S37.3—Injury of urethra S37.4—Injury of ovary S37.5—Injury of fallopian tubes S37.6—Injury of uterus (3) Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Glass: Recycling

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had on the re-use of glass jars for jam, chutney and preserves; and what consideration he has given to the effect of EU proposals on such re-use on farmers and others who use such jars to sell produce.

Anna Soubry: We have had no discussions on the re-use of jam jars. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) lead on this issue.
	The current regulations on food contact materials and the European Union hygiene rules apply mainly to food businesses, not to private individuals. They are intended to protect consumers from chemical migration of materials that may be used in the manufacture of containers used to store food or other microbiological risk.
	For enforcement purposes, local authorities would need to decide whether an individual or organisation constituted a food business.
	There is very small or no risk associated with the responsible re-use of clean jam jars. The FSA are not aware of any local authority taking action against an individual or organisation re-using jam jars for charitable purposes.

Health Services: Internet

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to expand the service provided by the Our Health South West website to the (a) South East and (b) UK.

Daniel Poulter: In May 2012, the Government published its information strategy for health and social care—“The Power of Information”:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_134205.pdf
	The strategy set out the Government's commitment to developing a single comprehensive online ‘portal’ from 2013, as a link to trusted information on health, care, support and public health, such as the excellent information provided by Our Health South West about stroke and dementia. A single, national, gateway to a wealth of health and care information will present a radical simplification to the way people will be able to access trusted health and care information and presents an opportunity for many more people, nationally, to be able to easily find and access such important and valuable information.

Hospitals: Babies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to promote baby-friendly hospitals;
	(2)  how many (a) maternity hospitals and (b) primary care trusts in England are at some stage of baby-friendly accreditation;
	(3)  how many births took place in baby-friendly hospitals in each region in the latest period for which figures are available.

Daniel Poulter: The Department recognises the evidence-based health benefits of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding rates in England have steadily increased over recent years and we are doing everything we can to support women who choose to breastfeed.
	We value the work being done by many of the dedicated professional bodies and other organisations including UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative and hope the good work will continue to deliver better health outcomes for mothers and babies.
	We understand from UNICEF that the following hospitals have Baby Friendly accreditation:
	
		
			 Baby-friendly hospitals Region 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital London 
			 Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital East Midlands 
			 Darley Maternity Unit East Midlands 
			 The Royal Derby Hospital East Midlands 
			 James Cook University Hospital North East 
			 University Hospital of Hartlepool North East 
			 University Hospital of North Tees North East 
			 Burnley General Hospital (Edith Watson) North West 
			 Countess of Chester Hospital North West 
			 Fairfield General Hospital North West 
			 North Manchester General Hospital North West 
			 Royal Blackburn Hospital North West 
			 Royal Oldham Hospital North West 
			 St Mary's Hospital for Women and Children—Manchester North West 
			 Stepping Hill Hospital North West 
			 Wythenshawe Hospital North West 
			 Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust South East 
			 Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital South East 
			 Blake Birth Centre South East 
			 Bridgwater Community Hospital South West 
			 Cheltenham General Hospital South West 
			 Chippenham Community Hospital South West 
		
	
	
		
			 Devizes Community Hospital South West 
			 Dorset County Hospital South West 
			 Frome Birthing Centre South West 
			 Gloucester Women's Centre South West 
			 Honiton Hospital South West 
			 North Devon District Hospital South West 
			 Okehampton Community Hospital South West 
			 Paulton Birthing Centre South West 
			 Penrice Birth Centre South West 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust South West 
			 Alexandra Hospital West Midlands 
			 Birmingham City Hospital West Midlands 
			 Birmingham Heartlands Hospital West Midlands 
			 Birmingham Women’s Hospital West Midlands 
			 George Eliot Hospital West Midlands 
			 Good Hope Maternity Hospital West Midlands 
			 Hereford County Hospital West Midlands 
			 Kidderminster General Hospital West Midlands 
			 Airedale General Hospital Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Barnsley Hospital Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Bradford Royal Infirmary Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Bridlington and District Hospital Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Calderdale Royal Hospital Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Dewsbury and District Hospital Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Source: UNICEF UK. 
		
	
	Information is not held centrally as to the number of births that take place in baby-friendly hospitals.

Maternity Services

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on NHS maternity services in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each NHS trust in 2011-12.

Daniel Poulter: This information is not collected in the format requested. The Department collects accounting data based on commissioning of secondary health care by financial year. Information regarding expenditure on the purchase of secondary healthcare relating to maternity services by strategic health authority (SHA) region and primary care trust (PCT) in 2011-12 is set out in the following tables.
	
		
			 Table 1: Expenditure on the purchase of secondary healthcare relating to maternity services for England 
			 Region 2011-12 Purchase of secondary healthcare: Maternity (£000) 
			 England 2,620,977 
			 Source: Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Expenditure on the purchase of secondary healthcare relating to maternity services by SHA region 
			 Region 2011-12 Purchase of secondary healthcare: Maternity (£000) 
			 East Midlands SHA 210,298 
			 East of England SHA 279,289 
			 London SHA 525,838 
			 North East SHA 107,848 
			 North West SHA 345,079 
			 South Central SHA 186,450 
			 South East Coast SHA 183,262 
			 South West SHA 234,665 
			 West Midlands SHA 271,736 
		
	
	
		
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 276,512 
			 Source: Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Expenditure on the purchase of secondary healthcare relating to maternity services by PCT 
			 Organisation 2011-12 Purchase of secondary healthcare: Maternity (£000) 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 15,230 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 12,897 
			 Barnet PCT 22,739 
			 Barnsley PCT 15,034 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 5,401 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 7,318 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 20,608 
			 Berkshire East PCT 21,938 
			 Berkshire West PCT 24,529 
			 Bexley NHS Care Trust PCT 12,160 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 22,349 
			 Blackpool PCT 5,276 
			 Bolton PCT 14,416 
			 Bournemouth and Poole PCT 17,748 
			 Bradford and Airedale PCT 28,512 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 23,382 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 10,051 
			 Bristol PCT 27,253 
			 Bromley PCT 14,356 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 23,358 
			 Bury PCT 8,639 
			 Calderdale PCT 10,169 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 23,228 
			 Camden PCT 13,259 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 24,605 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 21,011 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 18,107 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 14,652 
			 County Durham PCT 20,417 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 20,937 
			 Croydon PCT 21,655 
			 Cumbria PCT 14,127 
			 Darlington PCT 3,804 
			 Derby City PCT 14,551 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 24,185 
			 Devon PCT 46,442 
			 Doncaster PCT 15,069 
			 Dorset PCT 12,387 
			 Dudley PCT 15,204 
			 Ealing PCT 23,550 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 18,031 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 9,767 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 14,114 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 25,852 
			 Enfield PCT 18,563 
			 Gateshead PCT 6,974 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 20,761 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 7,587 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 23,537 
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 11,771 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 8,642 
			 Hampshire PCT 56,686 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 18,571 
			 Harrow PCT 13,583 
			 Hartlepool PCT 4,269 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 8,340 
		
	
	
		
			 Havering PCT 10,441 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 21,446 
			 Herefordshire PCT 6,580 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 12,144 
			 Hillingdon PCT 13,780 
			 Hounslow PCT 17,213 
			 Hull PCT 14,345 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 3,889 
			 Islington PCT 14,430 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 5,820 
			 Kingston PCT 11,027 
			 Kirklees PCT 23,614 
			 Knowsley PCT 8,447 
			 Lambeth PCT 25,277 
			 Leeds PCT 38,691 
			 Leicester City PCT 24,278 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 31,093 
			 Lewisham PCT 22,412 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 27,031 
			 Liverpool PCT 24,515 
			 Luton Teaching PCT 14,058 
			 Manchester PCT 26,811 
			 Medway PCT 11,985 
			 Mid Essex PCT 15,283 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 7,918 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 14,019 
			 Newcastle PCT 4,905 
			 Newham PCT 27,048 
			 Norfolk PCT 27,988 
			 North East Essex PCT 14,793 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus PCT 5,552 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 7,299 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 8,110 
			 North Somerset PCT 8,243 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 5,145 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 9,349 
			 North Tyneside PCT 20,235 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 29,365 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 34,670 
			 Northumberland Care PCT 9,696 
			 Nottingham City PCT 13,368 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 27,103 
			 Oldham PCT 11,557 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 29,836 
			 Peterborough PCT 9,532 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 9,713 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 9,270 
			 Redbridge PCT 14,774 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 6,202 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 10,706 
			 Rotherham PCT 14,059 
			 Salford PCT 14,805 
			 Sandwell PCT 16,122 
			 Sefton PCT 10,555 
			 Sheffield PCT 38,045 
			 Shropshire County PCT 9,315 
			 Somerset PCT 23,002 
			 South Birmingham PCT 18,870 
			 South East Essex PCT 15,673 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 9,898 
		
	
	
		
			 South Staffordshire PCT 31,071 
			 South Tyneside PCT 4,361 
			 South West Essex PCT 21,962 
			 Southampton City PCT 16,944 
			 Southwark PCT 24,634 
			 Stockport PCT 14,410 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 12,655 
			 Suffolk PCT 39,586 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 9,718 
			 Surrey PCT 50,717 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 21,331 
			 Swindon PCT 9,387 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 13,583 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 7,676 
			 Torbay Care PCT 6,886 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 15,850 
			 Trafford PCT 17,792 
			 Wakefield District PCT 20,779 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 15,808 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 16,738 
			 Wandsworth PCT 20,939 
			 Warrington PCT 6,714 
			 Warwickshire PCT 21,545 
			 West Essex PCT 13,018 
			 West Kent PCT 27,952 
			 West Sussex PCT 34,251 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 17,428 
		
	
	
		
			 Westminster PCT 8,417 
			 Wiltshire PCT 20,975 
			 Wirral PCT 17,523 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 13,292 
			 Worcestershire PCT 24,209 
			 Hertfordshire PCT 55,973 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus PCT 8,390 
			 Solihull PCT 9,512 
			 Source: Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts

Mental Health Services

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per capita on community mental health care in each primary care trust area for the latest year for which figures are available.

Norman Lamb: The following tables set out the spend per head on mental health for each primary care trust, as reported through the 2010-11 Programme budgeting data collection. Programme budgeting is the analysis of national health service expenditure on specific health care services, one of which is mental health. The 2010-11 analysis of expenditure by setting includes 'Community Care', which is defined as 'Care delivered outside of a hospital and within local communities'.
	
		
			 £ 
			 PCT name Total gross expenditure Community care Prevention and health promotion Health and social care provided in other setting GP, dental and ophthalmic Primary prescribing and pharma services In-patient: Elective and daycase 
			 Newcastle PCT 302.16 64.13 2.26 50.37 0.00 26.56 108.05 
			 Gateshead PCT 215.48 53.82 0.02 28.66 10.72 22.11 2.59 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 222.00 53.66 6.84 66.82 0.00 27.42 0.00 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 187.27 49.51 7.28 43.51 0.00 21.59 0.00 
			 Hartlepool PCT 205.54 46.08 0.66 77.07 0.00 18.54 0.00 
			 North Tyneside PCT 214.44 43.39 1.01 40.41 0.00 21.70 55.48 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 200.55 43.16 4.32 78.64 0.00 20.72 0.00 
			 South Tyneside PCT 251.74 40.97 0.01 58.55 2.62 19.97 84.46 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 304.78 28.80 0.06 45.11 0.04 19.49 0.08 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 186.00 17.58 0.23 74.02 0.00 21.01 41.54 
			 County Durham PCT 184.74 5.53 1.56 16.99 0.00 18.27 0.14 
			 Darlington PCT 178.15 2.89 0.36 29.64 0.00 25.03 0.23 
			 Blackpool PCT 230.16 119.98 0.08 22.27 1.14 26.68 36.06 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Teaching PCT 206.73 75.40 19.28 7.93 0.00 18.80 65.59 
			 Knowsley PCT 178.76 60.80 0.37 27.78 0.00 20.42 44.61 
			 Liverpool PCT 237.07 59.41 3.15 38.94 0.00 20.43 2.03 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 117.00 57.47 0.31 0.00 0.00 19.97 17.06 
			 North Lancashire PCT 227.92 52.87 0.23 69.77 0.00 22.98 0.02 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 195.05 50.85 0.22 20.25 0.47 23.73 14.25 
			 Halton and St. Helens PCT 177.03 45.84 0.86 25.47 0.00 20.08 23.78 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 211.77 45.50 2.38 44.23 2.63 18.83 37.23 
			 Warrington PCT 202.56 41.63 3.43 73.20 0.00 19.30 0.29 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 151.18 36.50 0.77 32.70 0.00 22.07 24.84 
			 Oldham PCT 192.09 22.78 0.92 15.96 0.35 21.03 0.07 
			 Cumbria PCT 203.33 12.97 2.83 135.76 0.00 23.05 1.72 
			 Manchester PCT 240.85 8.66 0.00 17.67 0.00 22.47 0.03 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 208.33 7.15 0.04 45.70 0.00 19.36 0.10 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 181.28 6.70 1.17 28.96 0.00 19.52 0.10 
			 Stockport PCT 183.92 6.26 0.57 30.41 0.00 24.41 0.07 
		
	
	
		
			 Sefton PCT 195.06 6.18 4.27 39.25 0.42 20.31 0.06 
			 Wirral PCT 203.48 4.64 5.22 24.72 0.12 23.69 0.12 
			 Bolton PCT 115.83 2.76 0.46 0.00 0.00 22.21 0.04 
			 Salford Teaching PCT 225.99 2.63 18.76 17.15 0.00 21.28 1.18 
			 Trafford PCT 182.13 2.09 1.58 25.61 0.00 23.05 0.01 
			 East Lancashire PCT 197.26 1.62 0.00 31.86 0.12 20.39 37.00 
			 Bury PCT 180.27 0.00 0.46 7.69 0.02 21.90 67.91 
			 Leeds PCT 186.19 64.90 0.36 5.40 0.00 18.78 74.05 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 178.50 61.22 0.98 46.31 0.00 19.74 37.29 
			 Sheffield PCT 258.72 57.29 0.48 67.71 0.08 22.22 42.16 
			 Calderdale PCT 195.07 57.04 0.57 78.50 0.00 19.75 0.05 
			 Barnsley PCT 311.85 52.54 0.23 158.72 0.00 20.55 0.06 
			 Kirklees PCT 176.91 47.38 11.68 44.60 0.34 19.37 6.15 
			 Rotherham PCT 207.47 42.95 1.45 6.01 0.57 18.40 0.19 
			 North East Lincolnshire PCT 205.44 36.13 0.43 34.73 0.00 19.80 0.07 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 195.14 25.77 1.29 79.03 0.00 18.03 0.12 
			 Wakefield District PCT 205.17 22.67 10.60 14.13 0.00 18.56 0.32 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 219.96 18.75 0.41 47.83 0.00 18.47 0.05 
			 Doncaster PCT 226.78 8.34 0.07 26.62 0.00 18.01 0.12 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 180.20 2.25 0.08 0.69 0.00 19.05 0.04 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 141.38 0.31 9.27 60.13 0.00 17.17 0.13 
			 Derby City PCT 266.00 62.65 0.00 75.16 0.00 17.97 22.52 
			 Leicester City Teaching PCT 211.70 53.54 2.10 67.24 0.04 18.31 51.21 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 153.76 48.90 0.00 11.81 2.65 20.62 0.22 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 183.34 36.72 0.32 71.38 0.19 16.48 0.07 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 166.46 35.78 13.41 34.42 0.59 18.28 0.81 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 158.22 34.89 0.11 57.59 0.52 15.90 0.22 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 224.52 16.25 3.81 20.16 0.00 22.07 82.56 
			 Nottingham City PCT 228.97 13.90 0.23 22.21 0.00 13.41 78.62 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 161.84 0.32 2.05 118.42 0.06 20.07 0.66 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 199.65 103.61 3.98 26.28 0.47 18.07 3.05 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 249.34 71.04 3.40 41.22 0.00 23.27 0.04 
			 Shropshire County PCT 188.66 69.30 4.99 36.72 0.66 19.82 26.37 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 192.94 62.66 0.48 23.04 0.00 21.06 0.10 
			 South Birmingham PCT 232.67 58.72 0.47 27.10 0.09 16.20 60.34 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 224.06 57.04 0.23 49.75 0.01 14.78 32.55 
			 Sandwell PCT 271.47 56.92 15.97 67.00 0.00 15.25 0.12 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 203.29 54.74 0.00 76.63 0.00 15.49 0.26 
			 Dudley PCT 170.37 54.57 1.85 16.11 0.20 16.96 0.16 
			 Herefordshire PCT 251.88 49.69 0.29 76.07 0.20 16.37 26.09 
			 Solihull Care Trust 175.31 45.26 11.65 23.37 0.00 16.37 0.09 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 204.47 41.78 0.63 61.38 0.00 20.98 27.52 
			 Worcestershire PCT 204.51 29.86 0.40 123.11 0.00 19.21 0.87 
			 Stoke on Trent Teaching PCT 97.85 9.94 12.03 30.91 0.00 21.49 0.06 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 296.63 9.50 0.26 56.42 0.12 16.44 0.07 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 165.47 6.04 0.20 45.44 0.69 17.00 6.04 
			 Warwickshire PCT 226.28 0.80 0.10 172.60 0.00 16.67 0.06 
			 Peterborough PCT 233.12 129.06 29.55 17.59 0.02 23.38 0.05 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 193.78 110.95 11.98 24.86 0.00 19.69 7.02 
			 Luton Teaching PCT 182.11 56.17 0.00 18.72 0.00 15.58 0.13 
			 South East Essex PCT 196.72 55.95 0.13 37.80 0.00 18.34 0.11 
			 West Essex PCT 186.77 43.57 0.27 4.06 0.06 18.20 0.00 
			 Mid Essex PCT 166.27 27.80 0.00 52.05 0.00 21.92 0.03 
			 North East Essex PCT 171.90 24.68 12.08 36.84 0.00 20.62 49.17 
			 Norfolk PCT 199.06 23.25 0.07 22.24 0.08 22.86 0.33 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 174.30 13.85 7.00 33.31 0.00 17.73 53.77 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 152.17 9.12 1.72 31.14 0.00 18.26 0.74 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney Teaching PCT 199.81 7.08 1.63 16.42 0.20 19.81 0.02 
			 Hertfordshire PCT 172.00 5.81 0.15 138.63 0.00 15.51 0.12 
			 Suffolk PCT 174.97 0.80 0.01 0.06 0.28 21.02 0.06 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 353.87 265.82 0.00 33.87 0.00 15.41 8.01 
		
	
	
		
			 Islington PCT 409.91 249.95 0.65 18.49 0.13 14.93 3.95 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 377.64 184.76 0.00 21.50 0.00 15.04 0.88 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 234.55 171.07 0.14 7.93 0.00 14.95 0.07 
			 Camden PCT 332.52 165.11 0.88 21.24 0.38 13.25 3.23 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 307.98 136.52 0.00 32.82 0.00 13.98 4.56 
			 Bexley PCT 190.49 124.97 0.05 44.44 0.02 13.47 0.46 
			 Westminster PCT 447.21 123.31 1.40 12.42 0.00 15.65 6.66 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 161.17 113.09 0.19 25.17 0.21 14.33 0.69 
			 Barnet PCT 217.09 106.07 0.22 16.40 0.00 16.82 3.04 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 252.25 105.27 0.06 19.62 0.00 15.56 0.19 
			 Havering PCT 179.91 99.96 0.00 26.50 0.00 16.58 0.02 
			 Wandsworth PCT 332.67 94.17 0.96 51.52 0.00 13.36 92.40 
			 Newham PCT 208.93 92.76 0.00 18.47 0.00 13.00 0.48 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 331.81 83.96 9.88 48.27 0.74 3.60 4.14 
			 Enfield PCT 238.67 83.73 0.07 21.87 0.00 13.48 2.99 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 314.21 78.97 9.33 38.12 0.15 15.75 2.58 
			 Harrow PCT 231.83 45.79 11.78 45.88 0.00 16.08 52.08 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 217.30 45.69 16.47 18.39 0.00 13.20 0.12 
			 Croydon PCT 206.24 38.90 0.05 53.58 1.19 11.55 0.08 
			 Lambeth PCT 352.15 26.84 0.49 2.41 3.38 13.88 0.17 
			 Ealing PCT 274.68 23.91 0.25 7.50 0.00 12.88 0.41 
			 Kingston PCT 226.71 7.49 1.55 0.25 0.78 15.30 0.03 
			 Southwark PCT 240.88 7.13 0.16 10.40 0.00 9.91 0.93 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 48.01 6.55 0.00 5.11 0.00 19.46 0.26 
			 Bromley PCT 194.46 2.94 0.19 17.09 0.00 16.32 0.57 
			 Hounslow PCT 219.07 1.92 0.08 14.17 0.00 15.35 0.70 
			 Hillingdon PCT 153.34 0.00 0.35 13.05 0.00 14.30 0.30 
			 Lewisham PCT 310.55 0.00 0.36 59.86 0.00 16.35 2.02 
			 Redbridge PCT 194.74 0.00 1.76 5.48 0.00 15.48 0.09 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 187.89 0.00 0.29 32.75 0.00 14.34 0.45 
			 Brighton and Hove City Teaching PCT 270.93 181.88 0.76 27.40 0.18 25.44 5.08 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 181.69 138.80 0.31 2.11 0.40 19.66 4.21 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 180.64 131.42 0.47 1.69 0.63 24.26 8.66 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching PCT 198.16 90.94 0.13 74.10 0.79 17.23 3.46 
			 Surrey PCT 198.65 62.44 0.06 25.70 0.00 21.10 61.16 
			 Medway Teaching PCT 214.53 48.68 0.04 59.50 0.00 18.32 6.56 
			 West Sussex Teaching PCT 161.06 10.94 0.19 114.98 0.78 20.62 3.95 
			 West Kent PCT 189.55 10.45 2.62 19.44 0.00 19.80 0.23 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 273.65 167.09 4.11 37.93 0.29 20.75 0.01 
			 Hampshire PCT 196.90 90.37 1.18 11.98 0.00 31.24 0.04 
			 Southampton City PCT 231.89 67.41 0.11 55.83 0.00 21.86 0.77 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare PCT 273.84 58.52 0.08 64.88 0.00 21.88 30.07 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 190.72 54.09 0.36 31.75 0.00 14.87 0.04 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 185.54 7.58 10.97 25.49 0.00 15.53 86.01 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 215.90 6.44 13.38 29.23 0.00 20.03 112.85 
			 Berkshire West PCT 199.55 0.45 11.08 22.19 0.00 16.56 0.13 
			 Berkshire East Teaching PCT 213.33 0.00 £0.20 56.85 0.00 16.98 0.08 
			 Dorset PCT 198.24 74.80 0.00 66.77 0.00 16.86 15.99 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 212.73 71.93 6.37 25.70 0.08 20.30 7.18 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 233.64 64.45 6.80 51.00 0.00 19.00 55.43 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 205.50 59.26 0.38 56.70 1.98 20.43 0.03 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 226.13 55.48 13.00 39.92 1.31 21.88 7.19 
			 Torbay Care Trust 214.38 52.14 2.91 57.74 0.00 19.54 0.26 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 193.67 50.33 1.36 56.45 0.63 16.52 33.06 
			 North Somerset PCT 130.09 50.22 13.44 3.72 0.00 18.17 27.88 
			 Devon PCT 190.43 47.14 0.37 27.06 0.00 16.49 23.91 
			 Wiltshire PCT 165.71 45.89 9.43 23.89 0.26 16.62 41.37 
			 Somerset PCT 169.94 41.28 0.50 41.24 0.00 16.81 48.63 
			 Swindon PCT 204.05 33.72 0.32 28.96 0.00 19.05 0.09 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 154.67 10.02 1.52 18.29 4.46 16.72 0.02 
			 Bristol Teaching PCT £317.53 0.00 20.19 134.22 0.00 20.47 41.21 
		
	
	
		
			         
			 Aggregate PCT 194.46 2.94 0.19 17.09 0.00 16.32 0.57 
		
	
	
		
			 £ 
			 PCT name In-patient: Non-elective Out-patient Other secondary care Ambulance A&E (including MIU and WIC) Non-health/social care 
			 Newcastle PCT 0.43 34.33 8.86 0.10 0.25 6.83 
			 Gateshead PCT 67.87 7.04 8.98 0.12 0.24 13.31 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 0.00 0.00 57.29 0.11 0.31 9.56 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 0.00 0.00 56.88 0.10 0.19 8.22 
			 Hartlepool PCT 0.00 0.00 54.78 0.11 0.35 7.94 
			 North Tyneside PCT 0.61 17.22 33.99 0.10 0.26 0.28 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 0.00 0.00 48.27 0.10 0.29 5.05 
			 South Tyneside PCT 0.42 3.56 30.31 0.13 0.31 10.42 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 0.43 0.00 200.39 0.12 0.27 9.99 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 0.44 24.52 3.77 0.09 0.28 2.52 
			 County Durham PCT 1.74 0.03 122.89 0.63 0.52 16.42 
			 Darlington PCT 1.56 0.00 112.29 0.56 0.25 5.32 
			 Blackpool PCT 3.60 9.07 1.86 0.63 0.30 8.49 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Teaching PCT 0.49 0.03 8.84 0.69 0.29 9.38 
			 Knowsley PCT 0.22 0.00 16.03 0.55 0.49 7.50 
			 Liverpool PCT 39.01 8.85 56.26 0.67 0.28 8.04 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 1.77 0.00 15.47 0.45 0.32 4.18 
			 North Lancashire PCT 0.67 5.76 66.38 0.40 0.22 8.62 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 36.14 10.32 36.37 0.71 0.35 1.38 
			 Halton and St. Helens PCT 19.63 1.87 28.09 0.31 0.44 10.65 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 1.03 7.17 43.36 0.47 0.29 8.65 
			 Warrington PCT 0.40 0.00 53.14 0.72 0.37 10.06 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 2.82 6.09 15.71 0.71 0.31 8.66 
			 Oldham PCT 3.12 0.16 121.74 0.53 0.34 5.08 
			 Cumbria PCT 6.24 2.72 13.11 0.86 0.24 3.83 
			 Manchester PCT 3.40 0.08 173.17 0.67 0.33 14.38 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 36.35 0.00 89.21 0.52 0.34 9.56 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 2.80 0.18 113.15 0.62 0.31 7.78 
			 Stockport PCT 0.75 0.01 115.91 0.75 0.31 4.47 
			 Sefton PCT 0.31 0.00 109.78 0.63 0.31 13.53 
			 Wirral PCT 4.64 0.05 121.53 0.86 0.36 17.54 
			 Bolton PCT 0.25 85.21 0.00 0.63 0.23 4.04 
			 Salford Teaching PCT 63.73 56.86 32.21 0.70 0.35 11.13 
			 Trafford PCT 0.77 0.00 121.37 0.61 0.35 6.70 
			 East Lancashire PCT 0.80 56.04 39.30 0.59 0.22 9.32 
			 Bury PCT 42.59 8.25 7.73 0.68 0.52 22.52 
			 Leeds PCT 1.79 12.00 0.51 0.79 0.30 7.30 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 0.51 0.15 0.07 0.55 0.34 11.35 
			 Sheffield PCT 1.00 20.35 41.62 0.71 0.30 4.80 
			 Calderdale PCT 29.75 0.00 0.27 0.76 0.42 7.97 
			 Barnsley PCT 5.43 4.64 62.21 0.68 0.30 6.49 
			 Kirklees PCT 26.79 0.00 13.72 0.71 0.28 5.89 
			 Rotherham PCT 6.18 43.93 80.14 0.48 0.28 6.90 
			 North East Lincolnshire PCT 0.19 0.00 107.99 0.52 0.24 5.34 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 3.69 6.33 57.47 0.61 0.30 2.49 
			 Wakefield District PCT 1.83 0.00 122.93 0.51 0.31 13.32 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 4.34 0.00 120.13 0.57 0.27 9.13 
			 Doncaster PCT 0.33 0.08 165.69 0.53 0.35 6.65 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 0.11 0.00 150.82 0.39 0.27 6.51 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 2.35 46.97 0.12 0.77 0.22 3.95 
			 Derby City PCT 3.92 0.40 71.23 0.56 0.31 11.27 
			 Leicester City Teaching PCT 4.33 5.28 0.01 0.61 0.24 8.79 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 0.26 5.14 53.36 0.50 0.25 10.05 
		
	
	
		
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 2.92 0.01 47.25 0.41 0.23 7.36 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 5.06 3.80 48.00 0.48 0.23 5.60 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 34.16 6.08 5.13 0.48 0.23 2.91 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 4.91 1.94 61.86 0.46 0.23 10.27 
			 Nottingham City PCT 3.48 80.12 1.06 0.77 0.23 14.97 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 0.41 1.17 13.37 0.41 0.24 4.67 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 0.84 0.01 37.23 0.57 0.35 5.20 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 52.60 9.06 40.69 0.54 0.34 7.15 
			 Shropshire County PCT 0.84 3.24 23.55 0.59 0.29 2.28 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 48.23 6.51 24.87 0.53 0.32 5.15 
			 South Birmingham PCT 2.41 9.73 49.22 0.52 0.26 7.60 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 2.94 4.93 32.10 0.51 0.35 28.87 
			 Sandwell PCT 1.12 0.00 69.91 0.50 0.30 44.40 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 2.99 0.00 41.42 0.55 0.23 10.98 
			 Dudley PCT 0.67 5.44 68.32 0.46 0.25 5.38 
			 Herefordshire PCT 42.66 6.56 28.23 0.60 0.27 4.85 
			 Solihull Care Trust 3.35 5.81 61.45 0.56 0.25 7.15 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 1.81 0.09 43.02 0.53 0.21 6.53 
			 Worcestershire PCT 1.35 0.00 24.91 0.59 0.27 3.94 
			 Stoke on Trent Teaching PCT 4.29 0.00 15.07 0.50 0.93 2.62 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 1.67 0.00 199.40 0.72 0.35 11.69 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 2.55 0.00 80.37 0.04 0.31 6.79 
			 Warwickshire PCT 2.21 0.01 24.98 0.56 0.29 8.01 
			 Peterborough PCT 0.22 0.00 22.42 0.83 0.23 9.77 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 0.67 0.00 15.99 0.61 0.21 1.80 
			 Luton Teaching PCT 0.31 0.00 83.14 0.77 0.20 7.10 
			 South East Essex PCT 0.65 0.00 75.64 0.63 0.57 6.90 
			 West Essex PCT 63.47 2.17 47.91 0.69 0.31 6.06 
			 Mid Essex PCT 33.20 3.18 19.87 0.60 0.22 7.39 
			 North East Essex PCT 8.74 10.73 £4.95 0.58 0.18 3.33 
			 Norfolk PCT 2.03 0.00 122.24 0.75 0.17 5.03 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 0.50 0.00 36.81 0.70 0.26 10.37 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 1.27 0.74 83.34 0.73 0.28 4.82 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney Teaching PCT 0.44 0.00 143.41 0.55 0.32 9.92 
			 Hertfordshire PCT 4.20 4.29 0.24 0.51 0.36 2.19 
			 Suffolk PCT 4.63 0.00 143.18 0.56 0.26 4.10 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 1.23 0.00 0.02 0.68 0.33 28.50 
			 Islington PCT 66.36 0.39 17.02 0.75 0.99 36.30 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 82.30 0.60 51.04 1.01 0.42 20.09 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 0.58 0.00 30.25 0.91 0.26 8.40 
			 Camden PCT 60.86 1.44 10.91 0.84 0.76 53.62 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 79.73 8.67 11.85 0.73 0.97 18.15 
			 Bexley PCT 2.96 0.00 0.34 0.41 0.20 3.17 
			 Westminster PCT 200.31 74.18 7.15 1.01 0.47 4.65 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 0.95 0.00 0.22 0.74 0.28 5.30 
			 Barnet PCT 44.02 7.87 3.46 0.64 0.90 17.65 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 52.28 0.13 43.37 0.56 0.43 14.77 
			 Havering PCT 0.32 0.00 30.60 0.42 0.28 5.23 
			 Wandsworth PCT 13.57 34.92 18.81 0.73 0.61 11.63 
			 Newham PCT 44.92 0.23 26.34 0.53 0.52 11.69 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 132.52 29.71 11.12 0.57 0.47 6.83 
			 Enfield PCT 91.59 4.93 4.09 0.63 1.31 13.99 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 73.79 17.58 69.81 0.87 0.39 6.87 
			 Harrow PCT 5.80 22.53 20.57 0.51 0.32 10.48 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 106.55 3.64 2.58 0.49 0.40 9.78 
			 Croydon PCT 0.59 0.00 94.70 0.77 0.24 4.60 
			 Lambeth PCT 0.45 0.00 296.22 0.88 0.40 7.02 
			 Ealing PCT 4.06 0.03 221.13 0.59 0.44 3.48 
			 Kingston PCT 0.37 0.00 194.44 0.65 0.29 5.55 
			 Southwark PCT 0.71 0.13 194.75 0.76 0.45 15.54 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 0.51 0.00 15.16 0.61 0.37 0.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Bromley PCT 64.75 73.19 6.67 0.55 0.33 11.86 
			 Hounslow PCT 2.15 0.04 178.02 0.64 0.36 5.66 
			 Hillingdon PCT 3.14 0.07 118.94 0.82 0.40 1.96 
			 Lewisham PCT 22.53 0.00 195.69 0.84 0.41 12.49 
			 Redbridge PCT 0.81 0.00 157.28 0.52 0.53 12.79 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 4.50 0.02 124.83 0.63 0.34 9.74 
			 Brighton and Hove City Teaching PCT 2.47 0.08 9.87 0.91 0.37 16.50 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 1.14 4.15 0.05 0.52 0.24 10.10 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 2.20 8.61 0.05 0.52 0.33 1.79 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching PCT 0.00 0.04 2.81 0.54 0.23 7.90 
			 Surrey PCT 5.09 11.47 0.09 0.60 0.38 10.56 
			 Medway Teaching PCT 17.81 27.06 6.86 0.56 0.26 28.90 
			 West Sussex Teaching PCT 0.75 0.01 0.00 2.68 0.09 6.06 
			 West Kent PCT 3.55 2.04 127.98 0.43 0.31 2.71 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 2.47 0.01 30.23 0.72 0.34 9.69 
			 Hampshire PCT 0.25 28.72 24.41 0.40 0.25 8.07 
			 Southampton City PCT 2.51 0.04 76.72 0.36 0.32 5.96 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare PCT 3.08 19.01 69.73 0.28 0.21 6.10 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 1.87 0.04 85.74 0.65 0.29 1.02 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 0.63 0.00 35.77 0.40 0.29 2.86 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 0.74 0.00 27.07 0.39 0.16 5.62 
			 Berkshire West PCT 60.18 0.01 80.00 0.38 0.23 8.34 
			 Berkshire East Teaching PCT 38.75 57.62 36.49 0.73 0.42 5.21 
			 Dorset PCT 0.59 1.98 16.93 0.41 0.20 3.70 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 2.02 0.25 72.92 0.47 0.23 5.28 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 0.69 11.07 20.36 0.35 0.22 4.26 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0.53 0.00 56.04 0.74 0.33 9.10 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 38.37 1.95 43.97 0.43 0.26 2.38 
			 Torbay Care Trust 0.18 5.51 69.17 0.54 0.32 6.06 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 13.38 0.21 15.42 0.40 0.21 5.72 
			 North Somerset PCT 4.16 0.00 10.40 0.38 0.53 1.17 
			 Devon PCT 3.84 2.40 65.71 0.41 0.29 2.81 
			 Wiltshire PCT 1.51 5.11 20.21 0.51 0.29 0.62 
			 Somerset PCT 0.73 6.05 9.59 0.55 0.28 4.27 
			 Swindon PCT 5.53 1.13 110.51 0.39 0.25 4.10 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 55.41 40.88 3.99 0.38 0.23 2.74 
			 Bristol Teaching PCT 6.05 0.27 85.91 0.46 0.31 8.46 
			        
			 Aggregate PCT 64.75 73.19 6.67 0.55 0.33 11.86

Mental Health Services: Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days children spent on adult mental health wards in each region in 2011-12.

Norman Lamb: Data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that the following number of bed days in adult specialist mental health facilities were spent by patients under 18 years of age in 2011-12 in each region:
	
		
			  Bed days 
			 North East 949 
			 Northwest 6,686 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 490 
			 East Midlands 5,939 
			 West Midlands 1,071 
			 East of England 4,336 
			 London 2,562 
			 South East Coast 192 
			 South Central 1,564 
			 South West 323 
			 Total 24,112

Mental Health Services: Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on child and adolescent mental health services in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

Norman Lamb: National health service spend on child and adolescent mental health services for 2011-12 has not yet been published—it will be published in December 2012. Data on the spend in 2012-13 have not yet been returned to the Department.
	Information on the spend by local authorities and schools on child and adolescent mental health services is not held centrally.

Midwives

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many live births per full time equivalent midwife there were in each trust in England in the latest year for which figures are available.

Daniel Poulter: This information is not collected in the format requested. Information regarding live births by strategic health authority region in 2011 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: number of live births per registered midwife in England 2011 by strategic health authority area 
			  Number 
			 England 33.5 
			   
			 North East Strategic Health Authority area 28.9 
			 North West Strategic Health Authority area 30.5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority area 31.7 
			 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 36.9 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 33.1 
			 East of England Strategic Health Authority area 36.4 
			 London Strategic Health Authority area 33.8 
			 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 33.6 
			 South Central South West Strategic Health Authority area 39.6 
			 Strategic Health Authority area 32.7 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are calculated on the full time equivalent number of registered midwives as at 30 September 2011. 2. Figures are rounded to one decimal place. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Sources: 1. Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2. Office for National Statistics, Births by site 2011

NHS: Reorganisation

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to limit the number of redundancies in the NHS due to clinical commissioning groups and commissioning support units deciding to employ staff and buy services from outside the NHS;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the current reorganisation of the NHS does not result in a disproportionately negative outcome for staff in (a) the North West, (b) the North East and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy that staff employed in primary care trusts in the northern regions who may be made redundant should be considered for employment by clinical commissioning groups and commissioning support units before those organisations recruit externally;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the extent to which effort is being made to redeploy existing NHS staff within the new structure.

Daniel Poulter: There is no evidence that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and commissioning support units (CSUs) have decided to buy services from outside the national health service. The expectation is that the majority of primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) staff will be transferred into the new system and be mainly employed by NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB), CCGs and CSUs.
	The national agreement for the filling of posts in new organisations requires staff at risk to be given priority consideration for vacancies over staff in the wider NHS or outside the NHS. It is only after staff at risk of redundancy have been considered that a vacancy can be advertised to staff in the wider NHS and then to open competition.
	An analysis has been undertaken of the distribution of posts in the NHSCB, CCGs and CSUs and there is nothing to suggest that there is any disproportionate variation in the spread of posts throughout the country. We are however aware that West Midlands, the North East and the North West have higher numbers of staff in PCTs and SHAs when compared to other parts of the NHS.
	The process of appointing staff to the new organisations is ongoing and we expect every effort to be made by NHS employers to avoid the loss of staff and valuable skills and experience through redundancy. As per Section 16 of Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions of Service, NHS employers have a responsibility before making a member of staff redundant to seek suitable alternative employment (SAE) for that person, either in their own organisation or through arrangements with another NHS employer.
	Staff should also ensure that they are able to evidence their efforts to secure SAE as part of the redundancy process. Staff are not entitled to an NHS redundancy payment if they either unreasonably refuse to apply for or accept SAE with their own or another NHS employer within four weeks following their termination date.

Obesity: Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of aftercare is available on the NHS to those receiving gastric surgery on (a) diet, (b) food intake and (c) lifestyle.

Anna Soubry: Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning health care services to meet the needs of their population including gastric surgery. To support and guide them, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has produced clinical guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children which includes guidance on care following gastric surgery.

Palliative Care

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that medical professionals give a high level of end of life care.

Norman Lamb: The content and standard of health care professional training is the responsibility of the independent regulatory bodies. Through their role as the custodians of quality standards in education and practice, these organisations are committed to ensuring high quality patient care delivered by high quality health professionals.
	The Department's ‘End of Life Care Strategy’ (2008) recognised that delivering quality services to individuals, their families and carers required a cultural shift in attitude and behaviour related to end of life care within the health and social care work force.
	We have taken a number of actions to develop the end of life care work force, including: developing core competences and principles for end of life; developing an extensive e-learning package on end of life care, free to access for health and social care staff and producing ‘Talking about end of life care: right conversations, right people, right time’, based on the findings of a number of communication skills projects which were completed in early 2011.
	We have also provided funding to support work force development in end of life care through the Multi Professional Education and Training levy.
	We are working on a number of initiatives to improve end of life care more generally. Progress on these is set out in the strategy's Fourth Annual Report available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/10/end-of-life-care-fourth/
	This week we have also held a roundtable to discuss the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), and in the wake of that have committed to appoint an independent chair to review how end of life care is working and to oversee the review into the LCP.

Queen's Hospital Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of MRSA have been reported at Queen's Hospital, Romford since 2002.

Daniel Poulter: The information is not available in the format requested. Information is only held by trust and is only available from April 2008. Queen's Hospital Romford opened in 2006 and is part of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRT).
	The numbers of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia episodes reported at BHRT for the years available is collected by financial year and is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Trust apportioned MRSA bacteraemia reports by financial year 
			  Number 
			 2008-09 20 
			 2009-10 19 
			 2010-11 15 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12 10 
			 Note: The data represents cases of MRSA bacteraemia thought to have acquired within the Trust during the present admission. Source: Health Protection Agency

Respiratory Diseases

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that priorities identified for improving patient outcomes for respiratory disease are enacted in the reformed NHS, without a strategic clinical network for respiratory disease.

Anna Soubry: It is for the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) and local commissioners to determine how best they can improve outcomes in respiratory disease for local populations. The Government's mandate to the NHS CB asks it to ensure the NHS makes progress against all the outcomes in the NHS Outcomes Framework, which includes an indicator on reducing mortality from respiratory disease in under 75s.
	The NHS CB is currently establishing its work programme for 2013 and we are confident that it is aware of the need to support local commissioners in determining how best to secure those improvements and reduce variation in services for respiratory disease.

Royal Liverpool Hospital

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his timetable is for the rebuilding of Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Daniel Poulter: The Department is currently reviewing the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust's draft Appointment Business Case, officials are working with the Trust to clarify the affordability of the scheme. This work is being progressed as quickly as possible, given the need to ensure that the scheme is affordable and financial obligations are observed.

Transplant Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people of each age group have had each type of transplant in England and Wales in the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			 Organ transplants performed in the United Kingdom for residents in England and Wales 1 April 2007 to 21 November 2012, by financial year, age and transplant type 
			   Age group  
			  Transplant type 0-17 18-34 35-49 50-59 60-69 70+ Total 
			 2007-08 Deceased donor kidney 54 178 392 261 186 31 1,102 
			  Living donor kidney 43 178 283 137 86 12 739 
			  Kidney/pancreas 0 37 106 22 4 0 169 
			  Pancreas 0 12 35 8 2 0 57 
			  Pancreas islets 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Heart 24 18 23 36 8 0 109 
			  Deceased donor lung(s) 7 19 27 32 17 0 102 
		
	
	
		
			  Living donor lung 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			  Heart/lung 0 1 3 1 1 0 6 
			  Deceased donor liver/lobe(1) 59 56 127 151 104 1 498 
			  Living donor liver lobe 8 0 1 1 0 0 10 
			  Other multi organ 4 0 3 4 4 0 15 
			  Total 199 499 1,001 653 412 44 2,808 
			          
			 2008-09 Deceased donor kidney 63 202 402 293 223 59 1,242 
			  Living donor kidney 52 188 295 182 121 13 851 
			  Kidney/pancreas 0 25 88 22 1 0 136 
			  Pancreas 0 7 37 5 3 0 52 
			  Pancreas islets 0 0 2 1 0 0 3 
			  Heart 31 22 28 21 15 0 117 
			  Deceased donor lung(s) 8 29 28 35 22 0 122 
			  Living donor lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Heart/lung 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 
			  Deceased donor liver/lobe(1) 69 69 127 173 97 8 543 
			  Living donor liver lobe 8 0 0 2 1 0 11 
			  Other multi organ 8 3 6 3 1 0 21 
			  Total 240 546 1,013 738 484 80 3,101 
			          
			 2009-10 Deceased donor kidney 64 145 411 323 272 71 1286 
			  Living donor kidney 63 225 297 215 126 22 948 
			  Kidney/pancreas 0 22 94 27 2 0 145 
			  Pancreas 2 8 21 6 1 0 38 
			  Pancreas islets 0 0 8 4 1 0 13 
			  Heart 34 17 29 20 9 0 109 
			  Deceased donor lung(s) 8 17 35 45 20 0 125 
			  Living donor lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Heart/lung 0 3 1 0 0 0 4 
			  Deceased donor liver/lobe(1) 52 56 132 174 125 4 543 
			  Living donor liver lobe 3 0 0 3 1 0 7 
			  Other multi organ 6 3 2 6 2 0 19 
			  Total 232 496 1,030 823 559 97 3,237 
			          
			 2010-11 Deceased donor kidney 65 169 374 336 308 95 1,347 
			  Living donor kidney 54 216 302 173 137 19 901 
			  Kidney/pancreas 0 25 86 31 6 0 148 
			  Pancreas 1 5 24 8 1 0 39 
			  Pancreas islets 0 2 3 6 1 0 12 
			  Heart 35 18 26 18 11 0 108 
			  Deceased donor lung(s) 7 22 39 62 19 0 149 
			  Living donor lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Heart/lung 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 
			  Deceased donor liver/lobe(1) 70 56 131 164 113 4 538 
			  Living donor liver lobe 6 1 0 0 1 0 8 
			  Other multi organ 6 1 3 3 0 0 13 
			  Total 244 516 988 802 597 118 3,265 
			          
			 2011-12 Deceased donor kidney 63 177 396 347 339 102 1,424 
			  Living donor kidney 59 216 282 170 133 21 881 
			  Kidney/pancreas 0 34 86 29 5 0 154 
			  Pancreas 0 9 24 4 0 0 37 
		
	
	
		
			  Pancreas islets 0 1 5 12 2 2 22 
			  Heart 31 13 32 27 18 0 121 
			  Deceased donor lung(s) 8 36 32 48 34 0 158 
			  Living donor lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Heart/lung 0 3 2 0 0 0 5 
			  Deceased donor liver/lobe(1) 60 69 125 172 145 8 579 
			  Living donor liver lobe 11 4 0 0 1 1 17 
			  Other multi organ 5 2 6 7 4 0 24 
			  Total 237 564 990 816 681 134 3,422 
			          
			 2012-13(2) Deceased donor kidney 34 82 245 242 241 74 918 
			  Living donor kidney 39 141 172 110 80 13 555 
			  Kidney/pancreas 0 15 43 17 2 0 77 
			  Pancreas 0 4 13 6 0 0 23 
			  Pancreas islets 0 1 6 7 2 0 16 
			  Heart 14 13 22 17 10 1 77 
			  Deceased donor lung(s) 2 26 11 40 13 0 92 
			  Living donor lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Heart/lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Deceased donor liver/lobe(1) 45 34 87 118 86 4 374 
			  Living donor liver lobe 5 2 1 0 0 0 8 
			  Other multi organ 4 2 3 4 4 0 17 
			  Total 143 320 603 561 438 92 27,157 
			 (1) Includes 'domino' transplants. (2) 2012-13 data up to 21-11-2012. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Urinary System: Infectious Diseases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional hospital bed days were due to urinary tract infections in NHS hospitals in (a) England and (b) each primary care trust in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Vitamins

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the British Medical Association and others on multivitamin intake to reduce the risk of cancer.

Daniel Poulter: Most people can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a balanced, varied diet and do not need to take multivitamin supplements.
	The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has had no discussions with external organisations regarding multivitamin intake to reduce the risk of cancer.

JUSTICE

Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken to ensure sufficient and appropriate provision for independent oversight of the administrative justice system following the proposed abolition of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice provides policy oversight of the administrative justice system and tribunals. Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service oversees and manages the performance of tribunals. The Ministry of Justice has convened an advisory group formed of the organisations who work with users of the administrative justice system, to help ensure that policy has a user focus.
	Given the developments that have been made in the administrative justice system and the oversight that already exists, the Government believe that there is no compelling case to maintain an independent oversight body.

Alternatives to Prosecution

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) conditional cautions, (b) simple cautions, (c) penalty notices for disorder or (d) other out-of-court disposals have been issued for offences of (i) murder, (ii) rape, (iii) unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, (iv) robbery, (v) burglary, (vi) arson and criminal damage, (vii) section 18 offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, (viii) section 20 offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and (ix) sexual assaults there have been in each year since 1997.

Jeremy Wright: The number of offenders cautioned (this includes conditional and simple cautions) for the selected offences in England and Wales, from 1997 to 2011, can be viewed in table 1.
	Penalty notice disorders came in to effect in November 2004.
	The number of penalty notices for disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over for criminal damage from 2005 to 2011 can be viewed in table 2. Please note that a penalty notice disorder is not available for the offences requested except for criminal damage.
	
		
			 Table 1: Offenders cautioned(1)for selected offences, England and Wales, 1997to- 2011(2) 
			 Offences 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
			 Murder — — — — — — — — 
			 Rape and attempted rape(3) 25 25 33 39 40 31 35 39 
			 Of which:         
			 Juveniles (10 to 17-year-olds) 19 16 20 21 25 23 19 23 
			 Adults 6 9 13 18 15 8 16 16 
			          
			 Sexual intercourse with a minor(4) — — — — — — — 126 
			 Robbery(5) 657 620 576 620 548 408 421 365 
			 Burglary(6) 9,407 8,372 7,689 6,601 6,396 5,771 5,568 5,604 
			 Arson and criminal damage(7) 30,351 31,025 31,654 30,006 30,092 27,803 31,275 37,396 
			 Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.18 79 86 94 96 88 79 129 166 
			 Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.20 326 374 375 360 299 356 335 381 
			 Sexual assaults(8) — — — — — — — 288 
		
	
	
		
			 Offences 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Murder — — — — — — — 
			 Rape and attempted rape(3) 22 24 34 35 22 35 19 
			 Of which:        
			 Juveniles (10 to 17-year-olds) 19 15 26 26 14 29 16 
			 Adults 3 9 8 9 8 6 3 
			         
			 Sexual intercourse with a minor(4) 350 424 407 376 356 394 432 
			 Robbery(5) 622 712 614 382 205 207 269 
			 Burglary(6) 6,451 7,687 6,972 5,407 4,398 3,484 3,359 
			 Arson and criminal damage(7) 45,233 52,238 53,067 45,169 37,276 28,044 24,509 
			 Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.18 200 216 130 104 123 113 56 
			 Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.20 511 521 418 493 560 546 191 
			 Sexual assaults(8) 654 766 836 677 611 516 583 
			 “—” = Nil (1) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Sexual Offences Act 2003, s.1 and s.5. (4) Sexual Offences Act 2003, s.8, 9, 11 and 12. (5) Theft Act 1968, s8. (6) Theft Act 1968, s.9 and s.10. (7) Criminal Damage Act 1971 s.1 to s.3, Malicious Damage Act 1861 ss.35, 36, 47 and 48, Explosive Substances Act 1883 s.2 to s.4, Offences against the Person Act 1861 s.64 and Allotments Act 1922 s.19. (8) Sexual Offences Act 2003, s.2, 3, 6 and 7. Note: Figures may not match previously published information following further validation of available data. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over for criminal damage, 2005 to 2011—England and Wales 
			 Offence 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Criminal damage (under £500)(1) 12,168 20,620 19,946 13,427 10,145 6,253 4,909 
			 (1) Offence added with effect from 1 November 2004. Penalty notices are no longer available for theft of goods valued at over £100 and may only be used for criminal damage up to a value of £300 from July 2009 onwards.

Convictions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many offenders were convicted of (a) drunken and disorderly behaviour and (b) drunken and aggravated behaviour in (i) England, (ii) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (iii) Suffolk, (iv) Bedfordshire, (v) Cambridgeshire, (vi) Essex, (vii) Hertfordshire and (viii) Norfolk in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many people were convicted of shoplifting in the East of England in each of the last three years, by police force area; and how many of those convictions resulted in (a) a caution, (b) probation and (c) a custodial sentence;
	(3)  how many people have been convicted of carrying a knife in a public place in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each of the last three years.

Jeremy Wright: Offenders found guilty at all courts of drunkenness related offences, for selected police force areas and England, from 2009 to 2011, can be viewed in Table 1.
	Offenders cautioned and persons found guilty and sentenced at all courts to immediate custody or a community sentence for 'shoplifting', by police force area in the East of England region, from 2009 to 2011, can be viewed in Table 2.
	Offenders found guilty at all courts of ‘carrying a knife in a public place’, for selected police force areas, from 2009 to 2011, can be viewed in Table 3.
	Information available centrally does not allow a breakdown of cases by parliamentary constituency.
	
		
			 Table 1: Offenders found guilty at all courts of drunkenness related offences, for requested police force areas and England, 2009 to 2011(1, 2) 
			  Drunkenness, simple(3) Drunkenness, with aggravation(4) 
			 Area 2009 2010 2011 2009 2010 2011 
			 England 1,135 983 852 17,957 17,675 17,365 
			 Suffolk 10 9 7 32 50 266 
			 Bedfordshire 12 9 12 37 59 80 
			 Cambridgeshire 56 61 29 113 95 77 
			 Essex 9 11 9 301 259 217 
			 Hertfordshire 3 3 2 82 61 49 
			 Norfolk 3 14 16 234 265 299 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes offences under: S.12 Licensing Act 1872; SS.1 and 2 Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 and S.12 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. (4) Includes offences under: S.91 Criminal Justice Act 1967; S.12 Licensing Act 1872; S.61 Town Police Clauses Act 1847; S.2 London Hackney Carriages Act 1843 and S.2 Licensing Act 1902. Source: Ministry of Justice, Justice Statistics Analytical Services. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of offenders cautioned(1, 2) and persons found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody and community sentence for 'Shoplifting'(3) at all courts, East of England Region, 2009-11(4, 5) 
			  2009 
			 East of England and force Cautioned Found guilty Absolute discharge Conditional discharge Fine Community sentence Suspended sentence Immediate custody Otherwise dealt with 
			 Bedfordshire 629 608 2 135 151 179 18 106 14 
			 Cambridgeshire 739 1,204 3 231 272 327 71 255 35 
			 Essex 2,130 2,155 19 391 470 688 109 429 31 
			 Hertfordshire 989 1,127 0 213 276 367 64 191 19 
			 Norfolk 424 1,024 3 270 157 294 53 196 54 
			 Suffolk 537 753 3 114 182 231 36 113 76 
		
	
	
		
			  2010 
			 East of England and force Cautioned Found guilty Absolute discharge Conditional discharge Fine Community sentence Suspended sentence Immediate custody Otherwise dealt with 
			 Bedfordshire 394 791 0 204 211 229 17 109 19 
			 Cambridgeshire 761 1,209 1 253 282 298 80 253 36 
			 Essex 1,459 2,445 13 490 536 712 116 518 50 
			 Hertfordshire 636 1,075 1 198 252 355 67 166 29 
			 Norfolk 388 1,111 1 277 177 263 68 204 112 
			 Suffolk 298 759 5 112 189 181 58 133 75 
		
	
	
		
			  2011 
			 East of England and force Cautioned Found guilty Absolute discharge Conditional discharge Fine Community sentence Suspended sentence Immediate custody Otherwise dealt with 
			 Bedfordshire 258 788 1 193 208 227 30 114 17 
			 Cambridgeshire 390 949 0 230 205 236 56 193 23 
			 Essex 1,150 2,574 12 528 559 821 162 436 44 
			 Hertfordshire 637 1,186 2 264 312 321 68 174 43 
		
	
	
		
			 Norfolk 331 1,058 3 304 166 257 81 175 68 
			 Suffolk 285 785 6 119 159 206 57 157 78 
			 (1) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (3) Stealing from 'shops and stalls' (shoplifting) is an offence under Theft Act 1968, section 1. (4) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (5) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Ministry of Justice, Justice Statistics Analytical Services. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Offenders found guilty of 'carrying a knife in a public place'(1), for requested police force areas, 2009 to 2011(2, 3) 
			 Police force area 2009 2010 2011 
			 Suffolk 78 57 50 
			 Bedfordshire 83 78 80 
			 Cambridgeshire 72 55 76 
			 Essex 227 198 192 
			 Hertfordshire 110 100 76 
			 Norfolk 107 106 92 
			 (1) Includes offences under SS.139 and 139A Criminal Justice Act 1988. (2 )The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Ministry of Justice, Justice Statistics Analytical Services.

Employment Tribunals Service

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employment tribunal cases have been lodged as a result of employers not granting requests for flexible working arrangements to (a) men and (b) women in each of the last five years.

Helen Grant: Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, and underpinning regulations, certain employees can present a complaint to an employment tribunal where they have suffered a detriment and/or dismissal for claiming ‘flexible working’ rights; or been subject to a breach of procedure.
	The following table sets out the volume of complaints presented to, and accepted by, employment tribunals, for each of the last five complete financial years under these flexible working jurisdictions. The data is broken down to show overall annual totals, and the claims presented by women and by men as subcategories of those annual totals.
	
		
			 Table 1: 'Flexible working' complaints accepted by employment tribunals in Great Britain 
			 Financial year Female Male No gender stated Total 
			 2007-08 230 50 1 270 
			 2008-09 230 40 0 270 
			 2009-10 280 70 0 350 
			 2010-11 230 80 2 310 
			 2011-12 250 80 0 330 
			 Notes: 1. The data for 2007-08 and 2008-09 was taken from the ET Central Database which is a live database so the data is updated regularly. For other years, the data is drawn from frozen databases which were used to compile the annual reports for respective financial years. 2. Figures in the table are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. All figures (save those in the 'no gender stated' column) are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale reporting system. Source: ET Central Database 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 Annual report databases; 2007-08 and 2008-09 ET Live Database November 2012

Fines

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the total value has been of fines issued following convictions under Section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 since the coming into force of the Act.

Helen Grant: HM Courts and Tribunals Service systems do not identify the value of fines imposed for specific offences and therefore this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual search of all fine accounts.

Landlords: Prosecutions

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many landlords have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for failure to comply with an enforcement notice under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 in each local authority area in each year since the introduction of that Act;
	(2)  how many landlords have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for failure to obtain a house in multiple occupation licence under the Housing Act 2004 in each local authority area in each year since the introduction of that Act;
	(3)  how many landlords have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for an offence of failing to protect tenants' deposits in an approved scheme under the Housing Act 2004 in each local authority area in each year since the introduction of that Act.

Jeremy Wright: Data for grouped offences under the Housing Act 2004 can be viewed in the following tables:
	Table 1: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates for offences under the Housing Act 2004 by police force area, England and Wales from 2006 to 2011.
	Table 2: Defendants found guilty at all courts for offences under the Housing Act 2004 by police force area, England and Wales from 2006 to 2011.
	Figures are provided by police force area as the Ministry of Justice court proceedings database does not hold details of offences by local authority area.
	Court proceedings data held centrally in an aggregated format do not separately identify individual offences under the Housing Act 2004 as requested.
	
		
			 Table 1: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates for offences under the Housing Act 2004(1) by police force area, England and Wales, 2006-11(2,3) 
			       Defendants 
			 Police force area 2006 2007 2008(4) 2009 2010 2011 
			 Avon and Somerset — 1 6 9 5 26 
			 Bedfordshire — — — 1 1 10 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 1 6 1 11 13 
			 Cleveland — — — — 3 4 
			 Cumbria — — 1 4 1 1 
			 Derbyshire — 2 2 1 — 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — 3 2 8 9 
			 Dorset — — 1 1 1 — 
			 Durham — — — 2 5 9 
			 Dyfed Powys — — 1 2 2 8 
			 Essex — — — 6 6 3 
			 Gloucestershire — — 6 1 — 2 
			 Greater Manchester — 2 2 12 9 50 
			 Gwent — 2 — — 8 4 
			 Hampshire — — — — 4 4 
			 Hertfordshire — 1 9 2 5 4 
			 Humberside — — — 10 — 2 
			 Kent — — 4 7 7 1 
			 Lancashire — 3 7 21 34 48 
			 Leicestershire — — 1 2 3 4 
			 Lincolnshire — — 4 — 1 1 
			 Merseyside — 5 6 10 28 15 
			 Metropolitan Police 1 18 77 43 74 121 
			 Norfolk — — — 5 9 6 
			 North Wales — 1 8 3 6 13 
			 North Yorkshire — — 2 5 2 2 
			 Northamptonshire — 3 — — — 2 
			 Northumbria — — — 5 — 8 
			 Nottinghamshire — 3 3 8 3 10 
			 South Wales(4) — 1 5 12 20 17 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — 2 — 
			 Staffordshire — 2 1 — 4 5 
			 Suffolk — — 3 3 4 4 
			 Surrey — — 2 — 4 4 
			 Sussex 1 2 5 8 11 4 
			 Thames Valley — 3 17 11 13 19 
		
	
	
		
			 Warwickshire 1 3 — 2 2 12 
			 West Mercia — — 1 1 — 2 
			 West Midlands — 3 6 12 9 13 
			 West Yorkshire — 3 2 21 49 15 
			 Wiltshire — — 2 1 1 2 
			        
			 England and Wales 7 59 193 234 355 478 
			 '—' = Nil (1) Includes offences under: ss.72, 139 and 236 Housing Act 2004—provisions commenced on 6 April 2006. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes Cardiff magistrates court records for June, July and August 2008. Source: Ministry of Justice—Justice Statistics Analytical Services 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Defendants found guilty at all courts for offences under the Housing Act 2004(1) by police force area, England and Wales, 2006-11(2,3) 
			 Defendants 
			 Police force area 2006 2007 2008(4) 2009 2010 2011 
			 Avon and Somerset — 1 6 7 3 12 
			 Bedfordshire — — — 1 1 4 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 1 5 — 6 12 
			 Cleveland — — — — 2 4 
			 Cumbria — — 1 4 1 1 
			 Derbyshire — 2 2 1 — 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — 1 2 6 4 
			 Dorset — — 1 1 1 — 
			 Durham — — — 2 5 7 
			 Dyfed Powys — — 1 1 2 — 
			 Essex — — — 4 3 3 
			 Gloucestershire — — 2 1 — 2 
			 Greater Manchester — 1 1 8 7 38 
			 Gwent — 2 — — 4 2 
			 Hampshire — — — — 2 3 
			 Hertfordshire — 1 6 2 4 4 
			 Humberside — — — 6 — 2 
			 Kent — — 3 4 5 1 
			 Lancashire — 1 6 11 19 26 
			 Leicestershire — — — 2 2 1 
			 Lincolnshire — — 3 — 1 1 
			 Merseyside — 2 6 6 16 14 
			 Metropolitan Police — 13 39 25 56 74 
			 Norfolk — — — 2 3 5 
			 North Wales — 1 4 2 5 11 
			 North Yorkshire — — 2 4 2 2 
			 Northamptonshire — 3 — — — 2 
			 Northumbria — — — 4 — 8 
			 Nottinghamshire — 1 3 7 3 8 
		
	
	
		
			 South Wales(4) — 1 5 11 9 11 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — 2 — 
			 Staffordshire — 2 1 — 3 4 
			 Suffolk — — 2 2 2 2 
			 Surrey — — 2 — 3 4 
			 Sussex 1 1 3 6 7 1 
			 Thames Valley — 1 16 5 9 12 
			 Warwickshire 1 2 — 1 2 5 
			 West Mercia — — — 1 — 2 
			 West Midlands — 2 4 5 7 8 
			 West Yorkshire — 3 2 15 36 9 
			 Wiltshire — — 1 — 1 1 
			        
			 England and Wales 6 41 128 153 240 311 
			 '—' = Nil (1) Includes offences under: ss.72, 139 and 236 Housing Act 2004—provisions commenced on 6 April 2006. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes Cardiff magistrates court records for June, July and August 2008. Source: Ministry of Justice—Justice Statistics Analytical Services

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has any plans to review the restrictions placed on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority awarding compensation to victims of child sexual abuse who were abused before October 1979.

Helen Grant: Parliament has recently passed the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 and the Government have no plans to review it at the present time.
	The so called 'same roof rule' was part of the original criminal injuries compensation scheme introduced in 1964, its purpose being to stop offenders benefiting from compensation paid to victims who lived with them. It was amended in October 1979 so that the restriction from that date only applied to adults who remained living together as a family after the incident, but this was not retrospective.
	The rule still therefore applies to certain cases from between 1964 and 1979, rendering ineligible for compensation an applicant who, at the time of the incident giving rise to the injury, was living with their assailant as a member of the same family. The Government recognise that this would affect some victims of abuse who were children at the time. However, the rule does not exclude from compensation those victims who were abused in an institutional or public setting such as a school, hospital or care home.
	The same roof rule has been a part of every criminal injuries compensation scheme since 1964, under all Administrations. In considering the changes to the scheme that were approved by Parliament earlier this month the Government did not think that it was right to make a retrospective change that would affect cases that arose over 30 years ago.
	Our reforms do, however, make two important changes that will benefit victims of sexual offences. They remove a provision which has applied since 1979 which prevented compensation being paid unless a prosecution had been brought or there were good reasons why a prosecution had not been brought. And, in applying the long-standing rule that an applicant should have reported the crime to the police as soon as reasonably possible, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will in future take particular account of the impact of the crime on the applicant. This change is intended to ensure that applicants do not lose out where a delay in reporting a crime to the police was the result of the trauma caused by a sexual assault or some other serious offence.

Offenders: Financial Education

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to enhance financial inclusion and capability for prisoners and ex-offenders.

Jeremy Wright: We recognise that access to bank accounts and other basic financial services can positively contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners and their resettlement into society, and we are working closely across Departments and with banks to increase provision. In particular we have worked with UNLOCK and several of the major banks to increase provision through a number of pilots across the country and we are keen to continue to mainstream the offer across all prisons as part of business as usual.
	We have agreed some documentation with the banks which can be endorsed by governors and directors of prisons to ensure that the prisoners have the necessary ID approved by the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group to facilitate the opening of bank accounts. We are also working with the Money Advice Service as part of their scoping work to fulfil their statutory duty to provide financial advice, how they can provide 1:1 advice in prisons to increase capability. We are also working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to look at how we can increase debt advice, and to explore other ways of educating prisoners and offenders more widely on financial management, including how we can increase the role of credit unions.

Offenders: Financial Education

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of prisoners who have no bank account, excluding a Post Office card account, at the time of their imprisonment;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of people who have left prison without having access to a bank account, other than the Post Office card account in each of the last three years.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of offenders entering or leaving a prison who have a bank account is not routinely collected. A survey by the Legal Services Research Centre in 2007 reported that 40% of people in prison surveyed had no current account or other financial products. An evaluation by Liverpool John Moores University in 2008 found that 69% of prisoners at one prison had no bank account.
	We recognise that access to bank accounts and other basic financial services can positively contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners and their resettlement into society, and we are working closely across Departments and with banks to increase provision.

Prisons: Employment

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners are engaged in paid work (a) at any time and (b) in the period immediately before their release; and what the average remuneration is for such work (i) before and (ii) after deductions.

Jeremy Wright: Where work is available, all convicted prisoners are required to work in accordance with the prison rules. Data on the total number of prisoners currently undertaking paid work in prisons, or while out on licence under temporary release arrangements, are not routinely collected and could be obtained only through manual checking with individual prisons, which would incur disproportionate cost. We do know, however, that over 9,000 prisoners were employed in production and providing services work in public sector prisons at the end of 2011-12. Significant numbers of prisoners are also involved in additional work in prisons such as helping to produce and serve meals and cleaning.
	Work undertaken by prisoners in prison is not currently subject to deductions. Based on a survey undertaken in 2007, the average remuneration for work undertaken by prisoners in prisons is £9.60 per week.
	Prisoners who are undertaking paid employment under temporary release arrangements and who earn over £20 per week after tax, national insurance, any court-ordered payments and any child support payments, are subject to the provisions of the Prisoners' Earnings Act 1996, which came into force on 26 September 2011. They are liable to the imposition, by governors, of a levy of up to and including 40% on their net earnings. In the period October 2011 to March 2012, an average of 305 prisoners per month were subject to the levy. The average net earnings per prisoner per month (before the levy) was £652, with the average levy per prisoner per month being £210. Governors are able to exercise discretion and adjust, or decide against imposing, the levy on prisoners' earnings where it would cause exceptional hardship.
	The average remuneration for prisoners released under temporary release arrangements who are not subject to the imposition of a levy under the Prisoners' Earnings Act 1996 (i.e. those for whom earnings are £20 or less per week) is not known. This information could be obtained only through manual checking with individual establishments, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Prisons: South Yorkshire

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what targets his Department has for financial savings arising from the competition for management of the Hatfield-Lindholme-Moorland cluster of prisons.

Jeremy Wright: A maximum price threshold for the competition for the Yorkshire cluster of prisons was set at the outset of the competition. This threshold represents a saving target of £104 million over 15 years, compared to current costs. This competition is still live and we expect to achieve savings of this magnitude at least.

Prisons: South Yorkshire

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assistance was provided by his Department to the in-house bid team for prison management for the Hatfield-Lindholme-Moorland cluster of prisons.

Jeremy Wright: The public sector bid for the Hatfield-Lindholme-Moorland prison cluster was prepared and submitted by Business Development Group (BDG) in the Directorate of Public Sector Prisons in the National Offender Management Service. BDG's resources included senior managers with expertise developed in the previous prisons competition, and the specialist expertise drawn from the finance, procurement and human resources directorates and from the operational policy advisers.

Prisons: South Yorkshire

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many bids were submitted for the prison management competition for the Hatfield-Lindholme-Moorland cluster of prisons.

Jeremy Wright: Four bids were received for the prison management competition for the Hatfield-Lindholme-Moorland cluster of prisons.

Prisons: South Yorkshire

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria were used to determine the shortlist for the competition for prison management for the Hatfield-Lindholme-Moorland cluster of prisons.

Jeremy Wright: Bids for all six lots within Prisons Competition Phase 2 were evaluated to determine the most economically advantageous having regard to both price and non-price criteria. The evaluation methodology was published to all bidders before submission of their bids and includes the detailed criteria.
	The high-level criteria and weightings are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 HMP/YOI Hatfield, HMP Lindholme, HMP/YOI Moorland 
			 Ref. Level 1 Section weighting (percentage) 
			 1 NOMS Custodial Service Specifications 10 
			 2 Custodial Services—Operational Resources 5 
			 3 Custodial Services—Whole Prison Approach 20 
			 4 Property and Facilities Management 10 
			 5 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Information Assurance (IA) 5 
			 6 Mobilisation, Transition and Transformation 10 
			 7 Prison Industries 20 
			 8 Legal/Commercial/Financial 20 
			  Total 100 
		
	
	These criteria were further broken down into a series of sub criteria. The criteria are fully set out in the evaluation booklet which was published to all bidders. I have placed a copy of the evaluation booklet in the Library of the House.

Prisons: South Yorkshire

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prison officers and (b) non-prison officer staff worked at (i) HMP Lindholme and (ii) HMP and YOI Moorland and Hatfield in (A) May 2010 and (B) May 2012 respectively.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of directly employed staff at the requested establishments on 31 May 2010 and 31 May 2012 is contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Full-time equivalent staff in post at HMP Lindholme and HMP/YOI Moorland and Hatfield as at: 31 May 2010 and 31 May 2012 
			   HMP Lindholme HMP/YOI Moorland and Hatfield 
			 Prison officers(1) 31 May 2010 233 293 
			  31 May 2012 211 288 
			     
			 Other staff 31 May 2010 242 196 
			  31 May 2012 231 208 
			 (1) Includes prison officer, senior officer and principal officer and the equivalent grades under the new grading structure introduced for new staff from April 2012.

Probation

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  by how much and what proportion the budget of each probation trust in England and Wales changed in each year from 2010 to 2012;
	(2)  what the funding settlement was for each probation trust in England and Wales in each year from 2008 to 2012.

Jeremy Wright: Probation Trusts were put in place following the implementation of the Offender Management Act 2007 and replaced the former Probation Boards between 2008 and 2010. Figures for individual Boards and Trusts in the financial years prior to April 2010 are therefore not directly comparable.
	Figures compiled from annual net operating costs reported in the NOMS Agency annual accounts and supporting data for Probation Boards and those Trusts set up in 2008-09, show total spend of £897 million (of which £112 million relates to Trusts), and for 2009-10 total spend of £899 million (of which £194 million relates to Trusts).
	Financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13
	The following table sets out budget allocations for each Probation Trust in 2010-11 and contract values for financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13 as agreed with each Probation Trust, and shows the annual variations. It should be noted that, in addition to these amounts, some funds are held centrally for specific offender related initiatives. These are not embedded in the budget and contract values and therefore excluded from the figures. Individual amounts may vary throughout the year, but are shown as at the start of the financial year. Probation Trusts may also receive income from elsewhere.
	
		
			 Figures £ million 
			 Probation Trust 2010-11 2011-12 Change from prev. year 2012-13 Change from prev. year 
			 Avon and Somerset 20.3 19.3 -0.9 -5% 19.7 0.4 2% 
			 Bedfordshire 9.3 9.0 -0.3 -4% 9.0 0.1 1% 
			 Cambridgeshire 9.8 9.5 -0.4 -4% 9.5 0.0 0% 
			 Cheshire 14.8 14.1 -0.7 -5% 14.0 -0.1 -1% 
			 Cumbria 8.4 8.0 -0.4 -4% 8.0 -0.1 -1% 
			 Derbyshire 13.5 12.7 -0.9 -6% 12.6 0.0 0% 
			 Devon and Cornwall 19.3 18.2 -1.1 -6% 18.2 -0.1 0% 
			 Dorset 8.8 8.5 -0.3 -4% 8.3 -0.1 -1% 
			 Durham and Tees Valley 22.8 21.8 -1.1 -5% 21.5 -0.2 -1% 
			 Essex 19.1 18.6 -0.5 -3% 18.6 0.0 0% 
			 Gloucestershire 7.5 7.0 -0.5 -7% 7.1 0.1 2% 
			 Greater Manchester 50.1 47.9 -2.2 -4% 47.0 -0.9 -2% 
			 Hampshire 24.2 23.0 -1.2 -5% 22.7 -0.4 -2% 
			 Hertfordshire 11.3 10.9 -0.4 -4% 10.8 -0.1 -1% 
			 Humberside 16.2 15.7 -0.4 -3% 15.6 -0.1 -1% 
			 Kent 20.6 19.5 -1.2 -6% 19.2 -0.3 -1% 
			 Lancashire 23.8 23.1 -0.8 -3% 23.6 0.6 3% 
			 Leicestershire 14.8 14.0 -0.8 -5% 13.9 -0.1 -1% 
			 Lincolnshire 9.2 8.9 -0.4 -4% 8.7 -0.1 -1% 
			 London 145.7 137.5 -8.2 -6% 137.1 -0.4 0% 
			 Merseyside 31.3 28.8 -2.4 -8% 28.7 -0.2 -1% 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 20.4 19.1 -1.3 -6% 18.8 -0.3 -2% 
			 Northamptonshire 8.9 8.6 -0.3 -3% 8.5 -0.1 -2% 
			 Northumbria 28.5 27.8 -0.7 -2% 27.7 -0.1 0% 
			 Nottinghamshire 18.9 18.0 -0.9 -5% 17.8 -0.3 -1% 
			 South Yorkshire 24.7 23.6 -1.1 -5% 23.3 -0.3 -1% 
			 Staffordshire and West Midlands 72.1 68.6 -3.5 -5% 68.1 -0.5 -1% 
			 Surrey and Sussex 26.8 25.1 -1.7 -6% 24.9 -0.2 1% 
			 Thames Valley 25.9 24.6 -1.3 -5% 24.4 -0.2 -1% 
			 Wales 55.0 52.3 -2.7 -5% 51.8 -0.5 -1% 
			 Warwickshire 6.9 6.6 -0.3 -5% 6.5 -0.1 -1% 
			 West Mercia 15.0 14.3 -0.6 -4% 14.3 0.0 0% 
		
	
	
		
			 West Yorkshire 39.9 38.4 -1.6 -4% 38.1 -0.2 -1% 
			 Wiltshire 7.5 6.9 -0.6 -7% 6.9 -0.1 -1% 
			 York and North Yorkshire 9.7 9.4 -0.2 -2% 9.4 -0.1 -1% 
			 Total 861.1 819.5   814.1   
			 Notes: 1. Figures subject to rounding. 2. Budget figures are the contract values with each Trust held by NOMS as at the start of each year. 3. Budget figures may be subject to change during the year to reflect operational needs. 4. Figures do not include funds held centrally for specific offender related initiatives. 5. Trusts may generate income from other sources. 6. 2012-13 figures as at July 2012.

Reoffenders: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) men and (b) women in the Northumbria Probation Trust area in each age group subsequently reoffended in each of the last five years for which information is available; what the 10 most frequent offences committed by (i) men and (ii) women on probation within Northumbria Probation Trust were in each of the last five years in each age group; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: Tables 1 and 2 present the number of adult (aged 18 or over) male and female offenders by age band that commenced a court order that was supervised by Northumbria Probation Trust in each of the years 2006 to 2010 (the latest calendar year available). Also presented are the number that re-offended in the one year follow up period, and proven re-offending rates (i.e. the proportion of the offenders who re-offended in a one year follow up period).
	It is not possible to provide the top 10 re-offences committed by offenders at any time while under probation supervision because the Ministry's re-offending data measure re-offending of offenders within 12 months of commencing a court order. This will not include all re-offences while under court order supervision because (a) some orders last less than 12 months so an offender may no longer be under supervision at the time of committing the re-offence; and (b) some court orders last more than 12 months and the re-offending measure will not pick up any re-offences committed in months 13 and beyond.
	Tables 3 and 4 provide the top 10 proven re-offences for male and female adult offenders by age band committed within 12 months of commencing a court order that was supervised by Northumbria Probation Trust in each year from 2006 to 2010.
	Proven re-offending is defined as any offence committed in a one year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow-up period and a further six month waiting period to allow cases to progress through the courts.
	
		
			 Table 1: One year re-offending rate for males commencing a community sentence in Northumbria Probation Trust 2006-10 
			  Age band Number in cohort Number of re-offenders Re-offending rate 
			 2006 18 to 20 791 485 61.3 
			  21 to 24 754 427 56.6 
			  25 to 29 663 359 54.1 
			  30 to 34 472 233 49.4 
			  35 to 39 387 167 43.2 
			  40 to 44 272 71 26.1 
			  45 to 49 149 43 28.9 
			  50+ 143 34 23.8 
			  Total 3,631 1,819 50.1 
			      
			 2007 18 to 20 755 468 62.0 
			  21 to 24 807 416 51.5 
			  25 to 29 764 401 52.5 
			  30 to 34 501 221 44.1 
			  35 to 39 410 163 39.8 
			  40 to 44 298 109 36.6 
			  45 to 49 176 47 26.7 
			  50+ 155 38 24.5 
			  Total 3,866 1,863 48.2 
			      
			 2008 18 to 20 774 443 57.2 
			  21 to 24 854 443 51.9 
			  25 to 29 763 374 49.0 
			  30 to 34 496 239 48.2 
			  35 to 39 426 177 41.5 
			  40 to 44 319 117 36.7 
			  45 to 49 191 52 27.2 
			  50+ 186 41 22.0 
			  Total 4,009 1,886 47.0 
			      
			 2009 18 to 20 736 413 56.1 
			  21 to 24 859 439 51.1 
			  25 to 29 812 379 46.7 
			  30 to 34 530 257 48.5 
			  35 to 39 457 164 35.9 
			  40 to 44 342 121 35.4 
			  45 to 49 211 53 25.1 
			  50+ 222 47 21.2 
			  Total 4,169 1,873 44.9 
			      
			 2010 18 to 20 674 383 56.8 
			  21 to 24 862 432 50.1 
			  25 to 29 743 340 45.8 
			  30 to 34 523 236 45.1 
			  35 to 39 389 152 39.1 
			  40 to 44 310 103 33.2 
		
	
	
		
			  45 to 49 208 58 27.9 
			  50+ 226 44 19.5 
			  Total 3,935 1,748 44.4 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: One year re-offending rate for females commencing a community sentence in Northumbria Probation Trust 
			  Age band Number in cohort Number of re-offenders Re-offending rate 
			 2006 18 to 20 108 50 46.3 
			  21 to 24 121 54 44.6 
			  25 to 29 138 67 48.6 
			  30 to 34 74 26 35.1 
			  35 to 39 61 21 34.4 
			  40 to 44 56 23 41.1 
			  45 to 49 33 7 21.2 
			  50+ 32 6 18.8 
			  Total 623 254 40.8 
			      
			 2007 18 to 20 108 51 47.2 
			  21 to 24 124 59 47.6 
			  25 to 29 147 76 51.7 
			  30 to 34 95 38 40.0 
			  35 to 39 82 24 29.3 
			  40 to 44 58 22 37.9 
			  45 to 49 42 11 26.2 
			  50+ 36 9 25.0 
			  Total 692 290 41.9 
			      
			 2008 18 to 20 91 43 47.3 
			  21 to 24 147 73 49.7 
			  25 to 29 145 76 52.4 
			  30 to 34 100 37 37.0 
			  35 to 39 91 31 34.1 
			  40 to 44 72 18 25.0 
			  45 to 49 52 13 25.0 
			  50+ 41 9 22.0 
			  Total 739 300 40.6 
			      
			 2009 18 to 20 94 38 40.4 
			  21 to 24 136 64 47.1 
			  25 to 29 164 77 47.0 
			  30 to 34 112 48 42.9 
			  35 to 39 116 29 25.0 
			  40 to 44 92 23 25.0 
			  45 to 49 56 15 26.8 
			  50+ 48 10 20.8 
			  Total 818 304 37.2 
			      
			 2010 18 to 20 105 50 47.6 
			  21 to 24 126 60 47.6 
			  25 to 29 158 75 47.5 
			  30 to 34 128 52 40.6 
			  35 to 39 77 33 42.9 
		
	
	
		
			  40 to 44 69 22 31.9 
			  45 to 49 59 12 20.3 
			  50+ 54 5 9.3 
			  Total 776 309 39.8 
		
	
	
		
			 Top 10 re-offences committed by males commencing a court order in Northumbria Probation Trust, 2006-10 
			  2006 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Public Order or Riot 393 
			  Other Motoring Offences 317 
			  Theft 260 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 259 
			  Violence-non serious 193 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 162 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 88 
			  Drink Driving Offences 54 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 40 
			  Other Burglary 36 
			    
			 21 to 24 Public Order or Riot 290 
			  Theft 256 
			  Other Motoring Offences 212 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 195 
			  Violence-non serious 154 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 110 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 88 
			  Other Burglary 49 
			  Fraud and Forgery 31 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 22 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 307 
			  Other Motoring Offences 226 
			  Public Order or Riot 206 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 153 
			  Violence-non serious 138 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 85 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 80 
			  Theft from Vehicles 43 
			  Other Burglary 37 
			  Fraud and Forgery 37 
			    
			 30 to 34 Other Motoring Offences 171 
			  Theft 142 
			  Public Order or Riot 140 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 86 
			  Violence-non serious 72 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 63 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 43 
			  Other Burglary 20 
			  Drink Driving Offences 18 
			  Domestic Burglary 17 
		
	
	
		
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 156 
			  Public Order or Riot 91 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 73 
			  Other Motoring Offences 72 
			  Violence-non serious 68 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 44 
			  Other Burglary 27 
			  Fraud and Forgery 24 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 19 
			  Drink Driving Offences 9 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 43 
			  Other Motoring Offences 42 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 31 
			  Public Order or Riot 30 
			  Violence-non serious 21 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 20 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 12 
			  Fraud and Forgery 9 
			  Drink Driving Offences 6 
			  Sexual 3 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 49 
			  Public Order or Riot 37 
			  Other Motoring Offences 31 
			  Fraud and Forgery 21 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 17 
			  Violence-non serious 10 
			  Drink Driving Offences 8 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 7 
			  Sexual 2 
			  Other Burglary 2 
			  Handling 2 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			    
			 50+ Theft 75 
			  Public Order or Riot 41 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 21 
			  Other Motoring Offences 12 
			  Violence-non serious 6 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 5 
			  Drink Driving Offences 2 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 2 
			  Violence-serious 1 
			  Sexual 1 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Public Order or Riot 385 
			  Theft 260 
			  Other Motoring Offences 246 
			  Violence-non serious 212 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 189 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 185 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 63 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 43 
			  Theft from Vehicles 35 
			  Domestic Burglary 35 
			    
			 21 to 24 Public Order or Riot 315 
			  Theft 292 
			  Other Motoring Offences 231 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 168 
			  Violence-non serious 163 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 101 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 72 
			  Drink Driving Offences 33 
			  Theft from Vehicles 33 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 31 
			  Other Burglary 31 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 422 
			  Public Order or Riot 223 
			  Other Motoring Offences 172 
			  Violence-non serious 162 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 153 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 82 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 71 
			  Other Burglary 41 
			  Fraud and Forgery 33 
			  Domestic Burglary 31 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 200 
			  Public Order or Riot 114 
			  Other Motoring Offences 109 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 90 
			  Violence-non serious 83 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 58 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 36 
			  Other Burglary 24 
			  Theft from Vehicles 16 
			  Domestic Burglary 15 
			  Drink Driving Offences 15 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 177 
			  Other Motoring Offences 76 
			  Violence-non serious 70 
			  Public Order or Riot 62 
		
	
	
		
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 51 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 34 
			  Other Burglary 25 
			  Fraud and Forgery 18 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 15 
			  Domestic Burglary 13 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 111 
			  Public Order or Riot 73 
			  Other Motoring Offences 51 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 36 
			  Violence-non serious 33 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 19 
			  Other Burglary 11 
			  Drink Driving Offences 9 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 8 
			  Handling 6 
			  Domestic Burglary 6 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 59 
			  Public Order or Riot 30 
			  Other Motoring Offences 26 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 12 
			  Violence-non serious 11 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 7 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 6 
			  Drink Driving Offences 3 
			  Fraud and Forgery 2 
			  Other Burglary 2 
			    
			 50+ Theft 67 
			  Public Order or Riot 32 
			  Other Motoring Offences 15 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 13 
			  Violence-non serious 8 
			  Sexual (Child) 8 
			  Drink Driving Offences 4 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 3 
			  Sexual 2 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Public Order or Riot 336 
			  Theft 253 
			  Violence-non serious 250 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 208 
			  Other Motoring Offences 201 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 125 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 79 
		
	
	
		
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 49 
			  Other Burglary 34 
			  Domestic Burglary 29 
			    
			 21 to 24 Theft 402 
			  Public Order or Riot 299 
			  Violence-non serious 190 
			  Other Motoring Offences 190 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 138 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 137 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 96 
			  Drink Driving Offences 36 
			  Fraud and Forgery 31 
			  Domestic Burglary 27 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 487 
			  Public Order or Riot 227 
			  Violence-non serious 131 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 130 
			  Other Motoring Offences 119 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 118 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 99 
			  Other Burglary 40 
			  Fraud and Forgery 32 
			  Domestic Burglary 28 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 310 
			  Public Order or Riot 157 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 99 
			  Violence-non serious 93 
			  Other Motoring Offences 88 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 79 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 43 
			  Handling 27 
			  Other Burglary 24 
			  Theft from Vehicles 19 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 183 
			  Public Order or Riot 127 
			  Violence-non serious 67 
			  Other Motoring Offences 52 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 45 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 41 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 33 
			  Fraud and Forgery 24 
			  Other Burglary 15 
			  Drink Driving Offences 11 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 149 
			  Public Order or Riot 96 
			  Violence-non serious 37 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 37 
		
	
	
		
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 29 
			  Other Motoring Offences 26 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 21 
			  Fraud and Forgery 11 
			  Drink Driving Offences 8 
			  Handling 7 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 49 
			  Public Order or Riot 45 
			  Violence-non serious 26 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 14 
			  Other Motoring Offences 10 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 10 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 9 
			  Drink Driving Offences 5 
			  Violence-serious 1 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 1 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
			    
			 50+ Theft 43 
			  Public Order or Riot 32 
			  Violence-non serious 20 
			  Other Motoring Offences 16 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 6 
			  Fraud and Forgery 5 
			  Other Burglary 3 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 3 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Handling 2 
		
	
	
		
			  2009 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Public Order or Riot 272 
			  Theft 211 
			  Violence-non serious 208 
			  Other Motoring Offences 165 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 148 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 116 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 73 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 55 
			  Domestic Burglary 44 
			  Other Burglary 36 
			    
			 21 to 24 Theft 304 
			  Public Order or Riot 269 
			  Violence-non serious 183 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 120 
			  Other Motoring Offences 112 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 97 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 82 
			  Other Burglary 26 
			  Fraud and Forgery 24 
		
	
	
		
			  Domestic Burglary 24 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 408 
			  Public Order or Riot 205 
			  Violence-non serious 145 
			  Other Motoring Offences 101 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 94 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 94 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 72 
			  Other Burglary 35 
			  Drink Driving Offences 26 
			  Fraud and Forgery 25 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 361 
			  Public Order or Riot 108 
			  Violence-non serious 92 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 77 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 75 
			  Other Motoring Offences 53 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 52 
			  Other Burglary 28 
			  Domestic Burglary 20 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 18 
			  Handling 18 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 191 
			  Public Order or Riot 75 
			  Violence-non serious 69 
			  Other Motoring Offences 44 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 42 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 39 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 30 
			  Other Burglary 18 
			  Fraud and Forgery 13 
			  Handling 11 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 147 
			  Public Order or Riot 98 
			  Violence-non serious 42 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 33 
			  Other Motoring Offences 27 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 26 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 16 
			  Drink Driving Offences 9 
			  Other Burglary 8 
			  Domestic Burglary 7 
			  Theft from Vehicles 7 
			    
			 45 to 49 Public Order or Riot 56 
			  Theft 34 
			  Violence-non serious 26 
			  Other Motoring Offences 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 6 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 6 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 5 
			  Drink Driving Offences 3 
			  Sexual 2 
			  Fraud and Forgery 2 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 2 
			    
			 50+ Theft 67 
			  Public Order or Riot 38 
			  Violence-non serious 27 
			  Sexual 12 
			  Other Motoring Offences 10 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 4 
			  Other Burglary 4 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 3 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 3 
			  Drink Driving Offences 2 
			  Domestic Burglary 2 
		
	
	
		
			  2010 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Public Order or Riot 259 
			  Violence-non serious 225 
			  Theft 223 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 143 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 111 
			  Other Motoring Offences 94 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 75 
			  Fraud and Forgery 23 
			  Other Burglary 21 
			  Domestic Burglary 20 
			    
			 21 to 24 Theft 371 
			  Public Order or Riot 280 
			  Violence-non serious 238 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 128 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 114 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 98 
			  Other Motoring Offences 96 
			  Other Burglary 38 
			  Theft from Vehicles 31 
			  Domestic Burglary 21 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 345 
			  Public Order or Riot 186 
			  Violence-non serious 151 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 96 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 85 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 75 
			  Other Motoring Offences 73 
		
	
	
		
			  Other Burglary 37 
			  Theft from Vehicles 22 
			  Domestic Burglary 22 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 415 
			  Public Order or Riot 131 
			  Violence-non serious 104 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 72 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 67 
			  Other Motoring Offences 61 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 60 
			  Other Burglary 29 
			  Handling 17 
			  Theft from Vehicles 17 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 215 
			  Violence-non serious 62 
			  Public Order or Riot 62 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 38 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 33 
			  Other Motoring Offences 33 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 25 
			  Other Burglary 24 
			  Handling 13 
			  Domestic Burglary 12 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 150 
			  Public Order or Riot 68 
			  Violence-non serious 41 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 34 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 23 
			  Other Motoring Offences 19 
			  Other Burglary 13 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 10 
			  Handling 8 
			  Domestic Burglary 4 
			  Drink Driving Offences 4 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 59 
			  Public Order or Riot 30 
			  Violence-non serious 22 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 12 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 10 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 8 
			  Other Motoring Offences 5 
			  Fraud and Forgery 5 
			  Robbery 3 
			  Drink Driving Offences 2 
			    
			 50+ Theft 70 
			  Public Order or Riot 65 
		
	
	
		
			  Violence-non serious 27 
			  Other Motoring Offences 15 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 9 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 5 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 5 
			  Domestic Burglary 5 
			  Sexual 3 
			  Violence-serious 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Top 10 re-offences committed by females commencing a court order in Northumbria Probation Trust, 2006-10 
			  2006 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Theft 47 
			  Public Order or Riot 46 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 32 
			  Violence-non serious 25 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 19 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 13 
			  Other Motoring Offences 8 
			  Fraud and Forgery 3 
			  Handling 1 
			  Violence-serious 1 
			  Robbery 1 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			    
			 21 to 24 Theft 71 
			  Public Order or Riot 43 
			  Violence-non serious 32 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 29 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 13 
			  Other Motoring Offences 9 
			  Fraud and Forgery 6 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 5 
			  Handling 4 
			  Drink Driving Offences 2 
			  Robbery 2 
			  Domestic Burglary 2 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 2 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 139 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 34 
			  Public Order or Riot 32 
			  Violence-non serious 26 
			  Other Motoring Offences 18 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 17 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 11 
			  Fraud and Forgery 9 
			  Robbery 6 
			  Other Burglary 4 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 24 
		
	
	
		
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 12 
			  Public Order or Riot 12 
			  Other Motoring Offences 11 
			  Violence-non serious 5 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 4 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 1 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 1 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 18 
			  Public Order or Riot 11 
			  Other Motoring Offences 6 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 6 
			  Violence-non serious 4 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 31 
			  Public Order or Riot 20 
			  Fraud and Forgery 12 
			  Other Motoring Offences 10 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 9 
			  Violence-non serious 6 
			  Handling 5 
			  Drink Driving Offences 3 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 7 
			  Public Order or Riot 2 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 1 
			  Violence-non serious 1 
			    
			 50+ Public Order or Riot 8 
			  Theft 7 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 5 
			  Other Motoring Offences 2 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Public Order or Riot 62 
			  Theft 59 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 28 
			  Violence-non serious 21 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Other Motoring Offences 7 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 5 
			  Fraud and Forgery 5 
			  Handling 1 
			    
			 21 to 24 Theft 90 
			  Public Order or Riot 40 
			  Violence-non serious 34 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 29 
			  Other Motoring Offences 12 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 10 
			  Fraud and Forgery 10 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 7 
			  Handling 2 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			  Robbery 1 
			  Domestic Burglary 1 
			  Theft from Vehicles 1 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 1 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 172 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 49 
			  Public Order or Riot 37 
			  Violence-non serious 25 
			  Other Motoring Offences 13 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 11 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 9 
			  Handling 4 
			  Fraud and Forgery 4 
			  Domestic Burglary 2 
			  Other Burglary 2 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 42 
			  Public Order or Riot 20 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 12 
			  Violence-non serious 11 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 9 
			  Fraud and Forgery 8 
			  Other Motoring Offences 8 
			  Violence-serious 3 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			  Other Burglary 2 
			  Drink Driving Offences 2 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 24 
			  Public Order or Riot 20 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 10 
			  Fraud and Forgery 7 
			  Violence-non serious 6 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 3 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 3 
		
	
	
		
			  Other Motoring Offences 2 
			  Drink Driving Offences 2 
			    
			 40 to 44 Public Order or Riot 18 
			  Theft 15 
			  Violence-non serious 9 
			  Other Motoring Offences 8 
			  Fraud and Forgery 6 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 4 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 1 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 8 
			  Public Order or Riot 8 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 4 
			  Violence-non serious 2 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 2 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 1 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 1 
			    
			 50+ Theft 13 
			  Public Order or Riot 8 
			  Violence-non serious 4 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 1 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 1 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Theft 63 
			  Public Order or Riot 45 
			  Violence-non serious 41 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 27 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 8 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 4 
			  Fraud and Forgery 3 
			  Handling 2 
			  Robbery 2 
			  Other Motoring Offences 1 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			  Sexual 1 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			    
			 21 to 24 Theft 112 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 50 
			  Public Order or Riot 46 
			  Violence-non serious 40 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 21 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 10 
			  Fraud and Forgery 10 
			  Other Motoring Offences 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Other Burglary 3 
			  Robbery 3 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 214 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 31 
			  Public Order or Riot 31 
			  Violence-non serious 27 
			  Fraud and Forgery 15 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 13 
			  Other Motoring Offences 7 
			  Handling 5 
			  Other Burglary 5 
			  Domestic Burglary 4 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 74 
			  Public Order or Riot 22 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 21 
			  Violence-non serious 15 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 6 
			  Fraud and Forgery 5 
			  Other Burglary 4 
			  Other Motoring Offences 4 
			  Handling 3 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 37 
			  Violence-non serious 16 
			  Public Order or Riot 12 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 6 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 6 
			  Other Motoring Offences 4 
			  Drink Driving Offences 3 
			  Handling 1 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 1 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 24 
			  Fraud and Forgery 12 
			  Public Order or Riot 12 
			  Violence-non serious 5 
			  Other Motoring Offences 2 
			  Robbery 1 
			  Handling 1 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 1 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 1 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 11 
			  Public Order or Riot 8 
			  Violence-non serious 4 
		
	
	
		
			  Fraud and Forgery 2 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			    
			 50+ Theft 9 
			  Public Order or Riot 5 
			  Other Motoring Offences 2 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 1 
			  Violence-non serious 1 
		
	
	
		
			  2009 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Theft 50 
			  Public Order or Riot 43 
			  Violence-non serious 26 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 11 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 6 
			  Fraud and Forgery 5 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			    
			 21 to 24 Theft 115 
			  Public Order or Riot 55 
			  Violence-non serious 39 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 25 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 8 
			  Fraud and Forgery 6 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 6 
			  Other Burglary 2 
			  Handling 2 
			  Other Motoring Offences 2 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 203 
			  Violence-non serious 22 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 22 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 18 
			  Public Order or Riot 18 
			  Fraud and Forgery 5 
			  Domestic Burglary 5 
			  Handling 4 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 3 
			  Other Motoring Offences 2 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 73 
			  Public Order or Riot 41 
			  Violence-non serious 21 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 18 
			  Other Motoring Offences 8 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 5 
			  Drink Driving Offences 5 
			  Handling 2 
			  Fraud and Forgery 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 34 
			  Violence-non serious 14 
			  Public Order or Riot 12 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 8 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 4 
			  Fraud and Forgery 2 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			  Theft from Vehicles 2 
			  Other Burglary 1 
			  Handling 1 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 39 
			  Public Order or Riot 14 
			  Fraud and Forgery 6 
			  Other Motoring Offences 6 
			  Violence-non serious 5 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 3 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 3 
			  Handling 2 
			  Taking and Driving Away and Related Offences 1 
			  Theft from Vehicles 1 
			  Domestic Burglary 1 
			    
			 45 to 49 Public Order or Riot 9 
			  Theft 9 
			  Violence-non serious 4 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 2 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 1 
			    
			 50+ Theft 14 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			  Public Order or Riot 1 
			  Other Motoring Offences 1 
			  Domestic Burglary 1 
		
	
	
		
			  2010 
			 Age band Offence Number of offences 
			 18 to 20 Theft 71 
			  Public Order or Riot 57 
			  Violence-non serious 36 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 16 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 8 
			  Fraud and Forgery 5 
			  Handling 3 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 2 
			  Robbery 2 
			  Domestic Burglary 1 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 1 
			 21 to 24 Theft 119 
		
	
	
		
			  Public Order or Riot 70 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 22 
			  Violence-non serious 17 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 9 
			  Fraud and Forgery 8 
			  Drugs (Import/Export/Production/Supply) 5 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 3 
			  Domestic Burglary 2 
			  Other Burglary 2 
			    
			 25 to 29 Theft 190 
			  Violence-non serious 35 
			  Public Order or Riot 35 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 27 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 16 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 8 
			  Other Burglary 3 
			  Fraud and Forgery 3 
			  Drink Driving Offences 2 
			  Handling 2 
			  Theft from Vehicles 2 
			    
			 30 to 34 Theft 115 
			  Public Order or Riot 32 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 16 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 12 
			  Violence-non serious 10 
			  Other Motoring Offences 9 
			  Fraud and Forgery 4 
			  Other Burglary 4 
			  Drink Driving Offences 4 
			  Handling 2 
			    
			 35 to 39 Theft 64 
			  Violence-non serious 15 
			  Public Order or Riot 15 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 9 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 4 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 4 
			  Other Motoring Offences 2 
			  Drink Driving Offences 1 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
			    
			 40 to 44 Theft 41 
			  Violence-non serious 10 
			  Public Order or Riot 5 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 2 
			  Fraud and Forgery 1 
			  Drugs (Possession/Small Scale Supply) 1 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 1 
			    
			 45 to 49 Theft 21 
		
	
	
		
			  Public Order or Riot 12 
			  Violence-non serious 3 
			  Other Burglary 2 
			  Criminal or Malicious Damage 2 
			  Absconding or Bail Offences 1 
			    
			 50+ Violence-serious 1 
			  Other Motoring Offences 1 
			  Public Order or Riot 1 
			  Theft 1

Restorative Justice

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of those found guilty of criminal activity linked to the public disorder of summer 2011 have taken part in restorative justice activities to date.

Jeremy Wright: Numbers of offenders found guilty of offences relating to the public disorder between 6 and 9 August 2011 that have taken part in restorative justice activities, are not centrally held.

Staff

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff of his Department currently work on administrative justice matters; and for how long each has been in post.

Helen Grant: Staff members working on administrative justice are drawn from across the Ministry of Justice, including HM Courts and Tribunals Service. It is an interdisciplinary team, with expertise in policy, finance, law, analysis and operations. Staff are deployed flexibly according to the demands of the work, in line with the wider approach to ensure that resources are prioritised efficiently and effectively to meet departmental priorities.

Video Games

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted for offences relating to the sale of age-restricted video games.

Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the court proceedings database does not contain information about the circumstances behind each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is not possible to separately identify proceedings, under the Video Recordings Act 1984, for the offence of the sale of age restricted video games from proceedings for other video related offences.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituencies

Paul Murphy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost has been of the Boundary Commission's reviews of boundaries of parliamentary constituencies in the UK.

Chloe Smith: The four Boundary Commissions spent £6.6 million up to the end of October 2012 on the boundary review and related purposes. £3 million remains in the budget for the rest of the review.

Elections

Bob Stewart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether local authority elections in England and Wales are to be held on the same day as elections to the European Parliament in 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: Decisions have not yet been taken on whether to consult on the date of the 2014 local government elections, and, in the light of any such consultation, whether to postpone the 2014 local government elections so that they can be held on the same day as the elections to the European Parliament.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Ash Dieback Disease

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to prevent the spread of ash dieback disease to Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers: I understand that the Northern Ireland Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are in close contact with DEFRA in respect of tackling ash dieback disease. Forestry is a devolved matter and not one for which I have ministerial responsibility although I stand ready to discuss these matters with Ministers from both Departments if asked to do so.

Pay

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking in conjunction with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure a parity of wages in Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK.

Theresa Villiers: The setting of wages is influenced by a number of factors including market forces and legislation. This is not a matter that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has so far raised with me.

WALES

Constituencies

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Ministers in the Welsh Government to discuss any proposed changes to Welsh Assembly constituency boundaries.

David Jones: The changes to Welsh Assembly constituency boundaries proposed in the Green Paper on Future Electoral Arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales are predicated on Parliament approving the new parliamentary constituencies proposed by the four UK Boundary Commissions. The Government will therefore await Parliament's decision before deciding how to proceed in respect of Assembly constituency boundaries.
	The four UK Boundary Commissions, including the Boundary Commission for Wales, are currently working on revised proposals for new parliamentary constituency boundaries and must publish final proposals before October 2013.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants: Flexible Working

Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of civil servants have requested (a) part-time, (b) job-share or (c) other flexible working arrangements in each of the last five years; and how many such requests were granted.

Francis Maude: Since the matter of flexible working arrangements is delegated to individual Departments to determine, the information requested is not held centrally.

Digital Technology

Helen Goodman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what funding his Department has allocated to each of its initiatives to promote digital inclusion;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to promote digital inclusion.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 22 November 2012
	Led by the Government Digital Service (GDS) the Government takes a shared approach to promoting digital inclusion by working across all Departments. Martha Lane Fox has also been appointed as the UK’s Digital Champion to promote this agenda.
	GDS has been set up within the Cabinet Office to deliver world-class digital products that meet people's needs and offer better value for taxpayers' money, and works with Government Departments and stakeholder organisations on the delivery of digital services.
	The Government Digital Strategy, published on 6 November 2012:
	www.publications.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/digital/strategy
	sets out how the Government will become digital by default and fulfils a commitment made in the Civil Service Reform Plan. Included within the strategy are plans for Assisted Digital services—enabling those who cannot ‘self-serve’ digitally to access government services.

Pay

Dominic Raab: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2012, Official Report, columns 252-3W, on pay, how many of the full-time equivalent staff listed in pay band SCS 1 of Table 5b on page 97 of the Cabinet Office's Annual Accounts for 2011/12 were paid salaries (a) between £80,000 and £100,000 per year and (b) in excess of £100,000 per year; and how many of the full-time equivalent staff listed in pay band SCS 2 of that table were paid salaries (i) between £80,000 and £100,000 per year and (ii) in excess of £100,000 per year.

Francis Maude: The salaries paid to staff in the SCS1 and SCS2 paybands in my Department, who were included in the figures for Table 5b on page 97 of the 2011-12 Annual Accounts, were as follows:
	
		
			  £80,000 to £100,000 p.a. More than £100,000 p.a. 
			 SCS1 20 4 
			 SCS2 33 16

Unemployed People

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people aged between 18 and 65 years are not in employment and do not claim benefits in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of people aged between 18 and 65 years are not in employment and do not claim benefits in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency. (130157)
	The ONS compiles Labour Market Statistics for areas below the UK following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions using the Annual Population Survey (APS).
	Estimates of the number of people who were not in work and were not claiming benefits for the requested geographies have been produced for people aged 18 to 64 from the APS based on their responses at time of interview during the period July 2011 to June 2012.
	It should be noted that comparisons between the data collected by the APS and administrative data collected by other Government departments show that the APS consistently undercounts benefit claimants.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates accompanies the estimates for the latest period.
	
		
			 Number and proportion of people aged 18 to 64 who were not in work and not claiming benefits, July 2011 to June 2012 
			  Number(1) (thousand) Proportion (percentage) 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun ****4 7.7 
			 Scotland *298 9.1 
			 UK *3,912 10.1 
			 (1 )Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV • for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 = CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ? 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes Source: Annual Population Survey

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for (a) the Arts Council and (b) music hubs in preparation for the Autumn Statement.

Edward Vaizey: No discussions between the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) have taken place.

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has provided any guidance to local authorities for maintaining an arts and culture provision during difficult economic times.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Central Government's role is to empower local authorities to make the decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their area. Many local authorities recognise the social and economic contribution that culture makes to localities. Deregulating cultural services to a local level is essential, to enable them to deliver their objectives as locally determined.
	Both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England (ACE) holds discussions with the Local Government Association. ACE's collaboration with the Local Government Association aims to facilitate how local partners work with the Arts Council to collectively drive economic growth through greater collaboration between creative sectors.
	Furthermore, in September 2011, the Department for Communities and Local Government issued new Best Value Guidance: a ‘fair deal’ which cuts back unnecessary red tape on local authorities, while introducing new requirements for councils to consult with local voluntary organisations on changes to funding and service. It also gives the voluntary sector the opportunity to offer options for reshaping and improving local authority services.

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she plans to take to promote access to arts and culture in England.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) works to make sure the cultural sector has the framework to grow and have real impact on people's lives. We create the conditions for growth by removing barriers, providing strategic direction and supporting innovation and creativity.
	Arts Council England distributes Government funding in order to promote access to the arts. It funds nearly 700 National portfolio organisations across the country, and runs a number of programmes designed to increase access to the arts: for example, a £45 million strategic touring programme, to help get high quality work to those parts of the country which depend on touring; and a £37 million Creative people and places fund set up to get more people taking part in the arts in parts of the country where participation is below the national average.
	The Heritage Lottery Fund is the largest dedicated funder of the UK's heritage, with around £375 million a year to invest in new projects that improve and widen access to heritage and culture. English Heritage has also been awarded Government funding of £2.7 million over three years to encourage the use of local heritage in delivering the curriculum.
	DCMS will be providing £1.29 billion sponsorship and grant funding for museums in the current spending period. The top five UK visitor attractions are all free DCMS-sponsored national museums and galleries.
	DCMS monitors the levels of participation in the arts and culture via its Taking Part survey. 78.9% of adults in England engaged with the Arts in the last year.

BBC Trust

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Chairman of the BBC Trust regarding the recruitment and appointment of (a) the Director-General and (b) other senior executives.

Maria Miller: I have had a number of discussions with the Chairman of the BBC Trust in recent weeks, some of which have included updates from the Chairman on the process they were intending to follow to recruit the new Director-General. However, the recruitment and appointment of the Director-General and other senior executives is entirely a matter for the BBC Trust

Devolution

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she holds regular meetings with her counterparts in the devolved administrations.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), Ministers and departmental officials have meetings with their counterparts in the devolved administrations whenever they are deemed necessary and appropriate.

Football

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the expert group on addressing barriers to football supporter share ownership will hold its first meeting.

Hugh Robertson: The Government welcomed the focus of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's inquiry into football governance on increasing the ability of supporter-owned clubs to raise funds and increasing the opportunity for supporters' trusts to achieve a share in their clubs. We are looking at the option of a working group to consider what regulatory issues are barriers for supporters to obtain or retain ownership interests in clubs. However, before we engage further, the Select Committee must conclude its deliberations and provide a formal response to these proposals.

Health Lottery

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to publish the results of her Department's review into the effect of the Health Lottery on the future of the National Lottery.

Hugh Robertson: The Department will publish the findings once we have concluded our initial assessment; we expect to be able to do so shortly.

Internet

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will assess the merits and feasibility of the Government establishing an online dashboard to help internet users find out what personal data is held about them online;
	(2)  if she will assess the feasibility of a system which would allow UK internet users to withdraw all personal data held about them online.

Helen Grant: I have no plans to do so.
	Under the Data Protection Act 1998, individuals may already request their personal data from organisations, and have rights in certain circumstances to delete the personal data held on them. The European Commission has published a proposal for a new data protection regulation which aims to strengthen these rights.
	The concept of individuals obtaining a copy of the data which organisations hold about them has parallels with the UK's midata programme which encourages organisations to release data which they hold about customers back to them in a portable, electronic format. The Government have recently consulted on introducing a power to make this mandatory for specified sectors.
	In terms of having the right to have data deleted many respondents to the Government's Call for Evidence on the Commission's proposals argued that it was unfeasible for all personal data to be deleted where this has been made available online and replicated.
	Negotiations on the new EU proposals are ongoing and are expected to last well into 2013.

Olympic Games 2012

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in identifying potential long-term tenants for the Olympic sports facilities at Stratford.

Hugh Robertson: Six out of eight permanent Olympic venues have had their legacy secured through the appointment of tenants and operators. The progress to date puts London further ahead than any previous Olympic host city in establishing a long-term legacy from its venues.
	Discussions are at an advanced state for the two remaining venues, the Olympic stadium and the press and broadcast centres. The stadium will be the new national centre for athletics and will host the 2017 World Athletics Championships. The London Legacy Development Corporation intends to build on this legacy by opening up the venue to other sporting, cultural and community uses in addition to athletics and is currently assessing four bids. A preferred sole bidder has been appointed for the press and broadcast centres.

Sport England

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding Sport England has distributed in (a) London, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) Sunderland in the last three years.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England publish details of the lottery and Exchequer funding they have distributed since 2007, by region, local authority and constituency, on their website at the following link:
	http://www.sportengland.org/funding/local_spending_data.aspx

TREASURY

Cash Dispensing

Simon Hart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress he has made on encouraging all major banks to allow customers with basic bank accounts to use their cards in other banks' cash machines.

Sajid Javid: The Government are committed to ensuring that individuals are able to access an appropriate range of financial products and services.
	However, decisions on the products and services offered by individual banks are a commercial matter for the institution concerned.

Coryton Energy: Taxation

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much duty was owed to HM Revenue and Customs by the Coryton Oil Refinery plant at the announcement of its closure on 28 May 2012; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC is under a strict, statutory duty of confidentiality and cannot comment on the tax affairs of individual businesses.

Fuels: Prices

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on fiscal incentives to reduce the risks to the economy of fossil fuel price shocks; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on fiscal incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: On 23 November, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), announced that funding for the levy control framework would be set out to 2020. This would allow up to £7.6 billion (real 2012 prices) to be provided for low carbon generation in 2020.
	The announcement can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_0146/pn12_0146.aspx

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2012, Official Report, column 510W, on PAYE, what communications activities HM Revenue and Customs (a) has already deployed and (b) plans to deploy in the next five months to ensure that all companies are aware of their obligations under PAYE real-time information.

David Gauke: HMRC's communications plan, for PAYE real time information, is informed by customer insight research and best practice. This tells us the best time to inform small and medium employers about changes to their obligations is when it is time for them to act.
	HMRC has written to more than 1.4 million employers since September 2012. HMRC also sent targeted e-mails and flyers to representative bodies, agents and software developers to issue to their members or publish on their websites. HMRC have also used alternative forms of media to reach a wider base of employers. This included advertising on Facebook, regular live Twitter Q&As, YouTube videos and road shows across the country.
	From December 2012 HMRC will:
	Write to intermediaries, software providers and professional organisations with material for them to use in their own communications to customers/members
	Send letters to approximately 1,000 very large employers with more than 5,000 individuals in a single PAYE scheme to confirm the date they will begin reporting PAYE in real time. Individual dates have been agreed with these largest employers
	Write again in February 2013, to around 1.4 million employers due to start reporting PAYE in real time in April 2013
	Launch a Digital Awareness campaign in February and March 2013
	Hold regular monthly Twitter Q&A
	Provide articles for the regional and trade press
	Provide articles for professional organisations
	Deliver presentations at a wide range of events across the country to a wide range of stakeholders
	Provide a wide range of support to our employer stakeholders which will be delivered by HMRC's Agent Awareness team, Business Education Support Team and, for larger employers, their HMRC Customer Relationship Manager.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many arrests HM Revenue and Customs has made in the North East for (a) cigarette smuggling and (b) the sale of smuggled cigarettes since May 2010.

Sajid Javid: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold the information in the form that it has been asked for. Numbers of arrests for tobacco related offences are collated nationally and not regionally. In addition, HMRC does not break down the figure of arrests to differentiate between the smuggling and sale of illicit tobacco products. The figures requested would therefore be obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

Stamp Duties

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the likely increase in tax revenues received by the Exchequer due to his recent increase in stamp duty for sale of houses worth more than £2 million to seven per cent in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the likely increase in tax revenues received by the Exchequer due to his recent stamp duty increase for sale of houses worth more than £2 million on properties purchased through corporate vehicles in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The estimated increase in tax revenue generated by the 7% stamp duty land tax rate was published in Table 2.1 of the Budget document:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2012_chapter2.pdf
	The following table displays this estimated yield:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2012-13 150 
			 2013-14 180 
			 2014-15 225 
		
	
	The stamp duty land tax rate on residential properties worth over £2 million and purchased by certain non-natural persons (including a corporate vehicle) was increased to 15% at Budget 2012. This was part of a package of interacting measures designed to curb avoidance in the residential property market including; an annual charge on properties owned by non-natural persons (due to come in April 2013) and a change to capital gains tax. The revenue estimates of this package are also available in Table 2.1 of the Budget document.
	The following table displays the estimated yield of the entire package
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2012-13 (1)— 
			 2013-14 65 
			 2014-15 65 
			 (1 )Negligible.

Taxation: Offshore Industry

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the total tax take associated with the extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: Government revenues from UK oil and gas production for all years up to and including 2011-12 are published as National Statistics on the HMRC website, in Table 11.11, accessible using the following link:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/prt/table11-11.pdf

Taxation: Plastic Bags

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely level of revenue to the Exchequer that would be generated if he introduced a five pence tax in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on each plastic bag sold; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The Government keep all options for tackling waste under review with any announcements on tax made at Budget. The Government continue to discuss with the retail sector the scale of carrier bag distribution and actions under way to reduce usage. Arrangements for compulsory charges on carrier bags in Scotland and Northern-Ireland, like in Wales, are a matter for the devolved administrations.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the cost to the public purse was of processing electronic self-assessment forms in 2011-12;
	(2)  what the cost to the public purse was of processing paper self-assessment forms in 2011-12.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given previously on 2 November 2012, Official Report, column 407W.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of self-assessment forms were submitted online in 2011-12;
	(2)  what proportion of self-assessment forms were submitted in paper format in 2011-12.

David Gauke: The information requested is available only at a disproportionate cost.
	Of the 9.45 million 2010-11 Self Assessment tax returns filed on time by 31 January 2012 filing deadline 80% were filed online and 20% in a paper format.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many staff at HM Revenue and Customs are dedicated to the processing of self-assessment forms;
	(2)  how much staff time at HM Revenue and Customs was dedicated to processing self-assessment forms in 2011-12;
	(3)  how much staff time at HM Revenue and Customs was dedicated to processing paper format self-assessment forms in 2011-12;
	(4)  how much staff time at HM Revenue and Customs was dedicated to processing electronic self-assessment forms in 2011-12.

David Gauke: HMRC has around 1,350 staff carrying out self-assessment tax return processing activity.
	Further information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time taken to process an (a) electronic and (b) paper format self-assessment form was in 2011-12.

David Gauke: The information for processing all SA forms is available only at disproportionate cost.
	HMRC estimates the average length of time to process a paper self-assessment tax return is 20 minutes. Electronic tax returns are processed automatically upon receipt.

Written Questions

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) shortest and (b) longest time taken by his Department to answer a written parliamentary question was in (i) 2012 to date, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2010.

Sajid Javid: The information is not held in the format requested. The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the current session. Statistics relating to performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary session are available on the Parliament website as follows:
	http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/procedure/P35_Memorandum_Leader_of_the_House_ Monitoring _PQs.pdf
	In the current session to date, Treasury Ministers have responded on or before the parliamentary deadlines in relation to 84% of the ordinary written questions and 80% of the named day questions tabled to the Treasury.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how many telephone calls the Serious Fraud Office's whistleblower hotline has received in the last year;
	(2)  how many criminal investigations by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) have been initiated as a direct result of a tip-off to the SFO's whistleblower hotline in the last year.

Oliver Heald: The Serious Fraud Office launched ‘SFO Confidential’ on 1 November 2011. Between 1 November 2011 and 18 November 2012, the SFO received 125 postal referrals, 2,083 email referrals and 1,057 telephone referrals. The SFO both investigates and prosecutes serious and complex fraud, bribery and corruption. Two investigations have been initiated following referrals to SFO Confidential.
	SFO Confidential is for people who want to tell the SFO about serious or complex fraud or corruption, including whistleblowers. The SFO decided to close the telephone element of SFO Confidential on 12 June 2012 because a disproportionate amount of staff time was being spent dealing with telephone calls that did not contribute to this aim.
	The National Fraud Hotline remains available for all types of fraud referrals, and SFO Confidential can be contacted by email and post, or through the secure online reporting form.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many criminal prosecutions by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) have been initiated as a direct result of a tip-off to the SFO's whistleblower hotline in the last year.

Dominic Grieve: Two investigations have been initiated following referrals to SFO Confidential but neither case has yet reached a prosecution stage.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 598-9W, on Bangladesh, if she will make an assessment of the efficacy of providing support for three parliamentary committees.

Alan Duncan: The three parliamentary committees (Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Estimates, and Public Undertakings Committee) are authorised by the Bangladesh Constitution to scrutinise the audit reports and accounts of the central Government. Therefore, they have an important role to play in improving the accountability of public expenditure in Bangladesh.
	DFID is contributing to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the oversight function of these three committees through the Strengthening Public Expenditure Management project (SPEMP).
	The effectiveness of all activities supported by SPEMP will be reviewed in a joint donor annual review being planned for January and February 2013.

Bangladesh

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 604W, on Bangladesh, and with reference to the relevant project details on her Department's website, for what purposes the remainder of the budget was spent apart from training civil servants.

Alan Duncan: Since 2006, the Public Service Capacity Building project (PSCB) has been providing technical assistance to: (a) develop the training capacity and curriculum, strategic planning and organizational development of the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) which is the in-country prime training organization for civil servants, and (b) assist the Ministry of Public Administration (MoPA) of Bangladesh to reform its human resource policies, systems and procedures to enable more appropriate deployment of well-motivated staff in the civil service.
	UK aid is also contributing to develop and introduce a computerised database on performance-based evaluation system (PBES) and a centralised personal management information system (PMIS). These database systems will be gradually introduced to all the ministries and departments for around 48,000 civil servants.

Bangladesh

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 604W, on Bangladesh, what assessment she has made of the effects of frequent changes to the civil service in Bangladesh following a change in government.

Alan Duncan: Frequent changes and rotations of senior officials in the civil service—not just when there is a change in government, but also during the tenure of a Government—can be an obstacle to consistent policy-making. DFID's Public Service Capacity Building project (PSCB) has supported the Ministry of Public Administration (MoPA) to improve its human resource management system and practices.
	By training a large number of senior officials (1,700), the PSCB has mitigated the risks posed by frequent rotations by ensuring that there is a critical mass of reform-minded individuals across the senior positions in the civil service.

Burma

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding she is providing to identify and assist ethnic Rohingya women who have reportedly been raped by Burmese government soldiers and security forces in recent months.

Alan Duncan: We are not providing specific funding to identify and assist ethnic Rohingya women who have reportedly been raped by Burmese Government soldiers and security forces. We have, however, emphasised to the Burmese Government the need for a greater security presence in Rakhine State to protect all civilians and to prevent further violence. We have also called for unrestricted access for the United Nations and non-governmental organisations to provide humanitarian support.

Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies on adopting the provisions of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: Lead responsibility for this policy area rests with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I refer the hon. Member to the answer to be given by Her Majesty's Treasury in due course.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of drought, flooding and other extreme weather events on her Department's objectives of alleviating hunger and poverty in the global South under a scenario of (a) less than a and (b) more than a two degree increase in global temperatures; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The 2011 independent Humanitarian and Emergency Response Review (HERR) commissioned by DFID included an assessment of the impact of extreme weather events. It predicted that 375 million people a year will be affected by climate-related disasters by 2015. DFID has also reviewed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation”.
	The IPPC report provides evidence that climate change has already affected the magnitude and frequency of some extreme events, and that we can expect the severity and frequency of these events, including storms and droughts, to be affected by climate change. It also predicts these impacts will be greater with higher global temperatures. Thus the impacts of extreme events are likely to be greater in a world where global temperatures increase by more than two degrees than one where temperature increases are less. Without action these extreme weather events will impact on DFID's objectives of alleviating hunger and poverty. This is why the coalition Government has made adaptation and disaster risk reduction a priority for the UK's International Climate Fund.

Developing Countries: Climate Change and Malnutrition

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to give priority to (a) the root causes of hunger and malnutrition and (b) action on climate change (i) at the Hunger Summit announced on 1 November 2012 and (ii) during the UK's presidency of the G8; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The Prime Minister has confirmed that following this year's Olympics Hunger summit, the UK will continue to drive forward action against hunger in 2013, with a further event on food and nutrition in June, before the main G8. In 2013, the UK will also prioritise taking forward the G8 New Alliance for Food and Nutrition Security—which aims to lift 50 million Africans out of poverty over the next 10 years through agriculture sector growth.
	The Prime Minister has announced that the G8 summit will focus on open economies, open governments and open societies to unleash the power of the private sector by advancing trade, ensuring tax compliance and promoting greater transparency. The coalition Government has made climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction one of the priorities for the UK's International Climate Fund.

Developing Countries: Food

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote the voluntary guidelines on the responsible tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government welcome the successful negotiation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (Voluntary Guidelines). As part of the G8 New Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition, earlier this year all G8 countries endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines. As a ‘soft law’ instrument their intention is to guide but not replace national policies, legislation and programmes and their implementation should be country-led.
	DFID bilateral programmes, which support developing country Governments' efforts to improve land and property rights, address a number of principles included in the Guidelines. For example, in Mozambique, jointly with other donors, the UK is supporting the recognition of customary rights to land.

Developing Countries: Malaria

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the Malaria Aid Programme; and what funding from her Department will be used to combat malaria in developing countries.

Justine Greening: In December 2010 the UK Government published their Framework for Results on Malaria. The UK is committed to help halve malaria deaths in at least 10 of the worst affected countries by 2015. We have observed accelerated progress on malaria in a number of countries where DFID has bilateral programmes including Kenya, Burma, Rwanda and Ethiopia. The Framework for Results will undergo an independent mid-term review in late 2013 when progress will be comprehensively assessed.
	The UK is committed to spend up to £500 million on malaria each year until 2015. We are determined that funds achieve value for money and maximum results in terms of reducing malaria burden and mortality.

Developing Countries: Polio

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the potential global benefits in terms of health and development budgets of eradicating polio.

Alan Duncan: The potential global benefits of eradicating polio are enormous. No one would ever die or be paralysed by this devastating disease again. An estimated eight million cases have already been averted since eradication efforts began twenty years ago.
	With eradication, possible annual savings are estimated at $1.8 billion on vaccinations alone.

Developing Countries: Sanitation

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of progress towards the goal of increasing the number of people with access to water, sanitation and hygiene to 60 million worldwide.

Alan Duncan: Details of DFID's bilateral aid results on water, sanitation and hygiene were published in June of this year in the 'DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12', which is available online at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/News/Latest-news/2012/Annual-report-New-results-show-UK-aid-is-changing-lives/
	The consolidated results for 2012-13 will be published in the 'DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13' on the DFID website in June next year.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of aid given to India since 1982 is.

Justine Greening: Historical overseas development assistance data showing the total amount of aid given to India are available on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development Assistance Committee website:
	http://www.oecd.org/statistics/

India

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the decision to end aid to India in 2015 on the UK's ability to meet its millennium development goals.

Justine Greening: DFID's annual report contains an assessment of India's progress against the millennium development goals. I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 9 November 2012, Official Report, column 51WS, for more details of our planned development relationship with India after 2015.

India

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate her Department has made of the number of people in the states of (a) Bihar, (b) Madhya Pradesh and (c) Orissa who will continue to be affected by (i) malnutrition, (ii) illiteracy and (iii) infant mortality after the cessation of its aid programme to India in 2015.

Alan Duncan: India is making steady progress in improving infant mortality, illiteracy and malnutrition. Please refer to my written ministerial statement of 9 November 2012, Official Report, column 51WS, for more details of our planned development relationship with India after 2015. The changes in the UK's development relationship with India reflect India's rapid growth over the last decade and growing ability to finance its own development programmes. Public spending on education in India has more than doubled since 2006 (from £15 billion in 2006 to £35 billion in 2011), as has spending on health (from £7 billion in 2006 to around £15 billion in 2011). During 2011-12, India invested 25% of its budget on health, education and rural development.

India

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of people who benefit from her Department's current programmes on reducing (a) malnutrition, (b) illiteracy and (c) infant mortality in the states of (i) Bihar, (ii) Madhya Pradesh and (iii) Orissa.

Alan Duncan: DFID contributes to joint programmes with the Government of India and state governments addressing malnutrition, infant mortality and illiteracy. These projects will benefit 3.4 million children and pregnant women with better nutrition, of which 53% are in Bihar (800,000), Madhya Pradesh (546,000), and Odisha (456,000). The remainder live in India's other low income states. We will help over 300,000 mothers deliver babies more safely with the help of nurses, midwives or doctors (critical for reducing infant mortality). Of this an estimated 77% are in Bihar (88,000), Madhya Pradesh (87,000) and Odisha (57,000).
	Through our support to the Government of India's education programmes, 835,000 children have been enrolled in primary schools and over 700,000 children will be enrolled in secondary school by 2015. The UK's contribution is not allocated to particular states.

India

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Indian government on UK official development assistance to India.

Alan Duncan: A delegation from the Indian Ministry of Finance visited London on 6 and 7 September. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), met the Indian Finance Minister at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Tokyo on 12 October. The Secretary of State visited India and held discussions with the Indian Government from 5-7 November. On 9 November 2012, Official Report, column 51WS, the Secretary of State reported to the House on the agreement we have reached with the Government of India by written ministerial statement.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department contributed to the cost of the report published in October 2012 by Ipsos MORI on views on the use of animals in scientific research.

David Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will contribute 100% to the cost of the report. Our estimate of the total cost is £20,000: a final figure can be provided only once final invoices are received and the contract is completed. This will be published on the Department's website and on:
	www.data.gov.

Apprentices

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship starts there were in each month in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England in each month since May 2010.

Matthew Hancock: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts in (a) Liverpool, Walton parliamentary constituency, (b) Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral local education authorities, and (c) England by quarter between May 2010 and July 2011. We publish apprenticeship starts at region, local education authority and parliamentary constituency levels of geography, therefore data for Merseyside is not presented.
	Provisional data for the 2011/12 academic year provide an early view of performance and will change as further data returns are received from further education colleges and providers. They should not be directly compared with final year data from previous years. Figures for 2011/12 will be finalised in January 2013.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by geography and quarter, 2009/10 to 2011/12 (provisional) 
			  2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 (provisional) 
			  Quarter 4 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 
			 Parliamentary constituency          
			 Liverpool, Walton 260 330 330 420 480 500 340 390 480 
			           
			 Local education authorities          
			 Knowsley 400 570 550 820 650 810 620 640 800 
			 Liverpool 990 1,350 1,310 1,930 1,880 2,070 1,470 1,660 1,950 
			 Sefton 530 780 780 810 1,000 1,070 910 820 940 
			 St Helens 310 490 470 550 570 840 530 600 790 
			 Wirral 520 950 910 1,130 1,160 1,440 1,110 1,060 1,080 
			           
			 England 64,500 120,600 93,600 113,300 129,800 162,100 109,000 113,900 117,500 
			 Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except for the grand total which is rounded to the nearest100. 2. Geographic breakdowns are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Figures are based on the geographic boundaries as of May 2010. 4. Quarter 1 is August to October, Quarter 2 is November to January, Quarter 3 is February to April and Quarter 4 is May to July. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in a supplementary table to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 11 October 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/

Apprentices: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many Government-funded apprenticeships there were in each local authority area in the East of England in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many apprenticeship starts in each (a) industry type and (b) age group there were in (i) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (ii) Suffolk and (iii) England and Wales in each of the last three years. [Official Report, 6 December 2012, Vol. 554, c. 9-10MC.]

Matthew Hancock: As the requested tables are large, I am making data available in the Libraries of the House. Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts by local education authority in the East of England. Table 2 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts by sector subject area and age group in Bury St Edmunds parliamentary constituency, Suffolk local education authority and England. Final data are shown for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 academic years and provisional data are shown for the 2011/12 academic year.

Bus Services

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Office of Fair Trading, (b) local transport authorities and (c) bus companies regarding partnership working on local bus services.

Jo Swinson: I have not had discussions with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), local transport authorities or bus companies regarding partnership working on local bus services.
	The Competition Commission spent two years looking at local bus markets across the UK, excluding London and Northern Ireland. Its report, published in December 2011, found that:
	Competition pushes up standards for passengers, but
	In many areas bus operators faced little or no competition.
	The Government believe that they have identified suitable remedies to remove the barriers to competition that they identified. However, this package of remedies is only one part of the Government's wider plans to improve bus services across local markets. The Government set out their plans in ‘Green Light for Better Buses’ published on 26 March 2012.
	I should also note that the Competition Markets Authority will take on the OFT's specific role, under the Transport Act 2000, in applying competition tests that apply when local transport authorities form schemes or make agreements with bus operators.

Business: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the level of lending to small businesses in Barnsley Central constituency since May 2010.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not have data on the overall level of lending to small and medium-sized businesses at constituency level.
	Business lending statistics at regional level are already published on the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) website. The most recent data were published on 19 October 2012 at:
	http://www.bba.org.uk/statistics/small-business
	The BBA has committed to publish SME lending at post-code level, once a sufficient data set has been developed to allow meaningful comparison. The precision of these data make their disclosure commercially sensitive and so their publication schedule will be annual, with the first release to take place shortly.
	The Enterprise Finance Guarantee, the Government’s loan guarantee scheme does provide a breakdown of lending at constituency level. From May 2010 to October 2012, 16 small and medium-size enterprises in the Barnsley Central constituency had been offered EFG loans with a total value of £1,000,825. Of those, 14 loans have been drawn down with a total value of £880,475.

Business: Regulation

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to page six of his Department's strategy for sustainable growth, published in July 2010, on creating the best market frameworks through appropriate regulation, what progress has been made on (a) reducing the instances of mergers which do not add economic value and (b) a review of the takeover market; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Swinson: The Government launched “A Long-Term Focus for Corporate Britain: A Call for Evidence” in October 2010. Following the evidence received, the Government asked Professor John Kay to conduct a review into equity markets. In its response to the Kay Review, the Government agreed with the recommendation that the scale and effectiveness of merger activity in UK companies should be kept under careful review. We believe that the most important step to ensuring mergers and acquisitions deliver long-term value is to enable company boards to make better informed decisions—based on engagement with their shareholders, who are more prepared to question ambitious takeover proposals as part of their stewardship role.
	The takeover panel reviewed the takeover code in September 2011 and made a range of changes including: increasing the protection for target companies against protracted ‘virtual bid’ periods, strengthening the position of the target company by banning deal protection measures and inducement fees, increasing transparency and improving the quality of disclosure. These changes have shortened virtual bid periods, reducing uncertainty, and there has also been an increase in representations from employee representatives as a result of the changes to the code.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to pages 11-12 of his Department's strategy for sustainable growth, published in July 2010 on access to finance, how much of the planned support for additional lending to small and medium-sized enterprises as part of the extension of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee had been provided by March 2011.

Michael Fallon: The Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) is a demand led scheme. For Phase 2 of EFG (April 2010—March 2011), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills had a budget to guarantee up to £700 million of additional lending.
	As of March 2011, a total of £494.10 million of EFG loan offers had been made to 5,061 small and medium-size enterprises. Of these, 4,468 loans were drawn upon with a value of £426.99 million.
	EFG lending figures are available on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website and are updated on a quarterly basis.

Middle East Task Force

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in which countries the Middle East Task Force plans on focusing to encourage greater small and medium-sized enterprise investments and exports in that region.

Michael Fallon: The primary focus of the Middle East Task Force is on the High Growth Markets of the Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar) and Egypt. The task force does, however, take into account opportunities elsewhere as it identifies these.

Foreign Investment in UK

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the level of inward investment into the UK in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Michael Fallon: Estimates of inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). According to provisional estimates, the UK's inward FDI stock amounted to £776.1 billion at the end of 2011, a 4.5% increase from the amount of £742.7 billion invested at the end of 2010.
	Figures for 2012 are only available up to 2012Q2. These show that the UK's inward FDI stock amounted to £796.6 billion at the end of 2012 Q2, a 5.1% increase on the figure of £758.0 billion at the end of the same quarter a year ago (2011 Q2).
	Note:
	The figures above for 2011 and the first half of 2012 are provisional estimates, derived from quarterly surveys. The ONS' main publication on UK FDI is the 'Business Monitor MA4'. This is based on annual surveys into FDI which provide more robust figures. This publication, however, contains data covering the period up to 2010 only. Figures for 2011 will be published on 6 December 2012.
	Source:
	ONS Balance of Payments 2012Q2

Further Education: Finance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will list all unsuccessful bids to the third phase of the Enhanced Renewal Grant (ERG3) in England; and how many future rounds of the Enhanced Renewal Grant for Colleges there will be for the remainder of this Parliament.

Matthew Hancock: The following further education colleges were unsuccessful in securing funding through the Enhance Renewal Grant Phase 3:
	Accrington and Rossendale College
	Aylesbury College
	Berkshire College of Agriculture
	Birmingham Metropolitan College
	Bishop Burton College
	Blackburn College
	Bolton College
	Bournville College of Further Education
	Bromley College of Further and Higher Education
	Bury College
	Cambridge Regional College
	Canterbury College
	Capel Manor College
	Carlisle College
	Central Bedfordshire College
	Central Sussex College
	City College, Brighton and Hove
	City of Bath College
	City of Sunderland College
	Colchester Institute
	Cornwall College
	East Berkshire College
	East Kent College
	Exeter College
	Henley College, Coventry
	Hugh Baird College
	Hull College Group
	Kendal College
	Kingston Maurward College
	Lambeth College
	Leek College of Further Education and School of Art
	Lincoln College
	Lowestoft College
	Mid Cheshire College of Further Education
	North Hertfordshire College
	North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
	Norwich City College of Further and Higher Education
	PETROC
	Preston College
	Richmond Adult Community College
	SEEVIC College
	Somerset College of Arts and Technology
	South Nottingham College
	South Tyneside College
	Stafford College
	Stephenson College
	Stockport College of Further and Higher Education
	Stoke-on-Trent College
	Strode College
	Swindon College
	The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education
	The Manchester College
	Uxbridge College
	Wakefield College
	Warwickshire College
	West Suffolk College
	Weston College
	Weymouth College
	Wigan and Leigh College
	Worcester College of Technology
	We are currently exploring options for a capital grant funding scheme which will build upon the previous three Enhanced Renewal Grant schemes.

Gamma Retrovirus Infections

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any Government-funded bodies have used clinically validated assays in their published studies into gamma retrovirus infections in myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer patients in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical research.
	Researchers at the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research are investigating infection and replication of retroviruses, such as xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus (XMRV). Two papers resulting from work on XMRV in patients with Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and also in prostate cancer patients have been published. Neither study identified a link between XMRV and disease. Details of the sensitive serological and PCR assays used in the studies are described in the papers. There are no clinically validated assays to study gammaretroviruses in humans.

Higher Education: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from Havering have entered higher education in each of the last five years.

David Willetts: The latest available information on entrants to UK higher education institutions who were domiciled in Havering local authority prior to their course is shown in the following table for the academic years 2006/07 to 2010/11. Information for the 2011/12 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2013.
	
		
			 Havering local authority domiciled(1) entrants(2) by level of study: UK higher education institutions, academic year 2006/07 to 2010/11 
			 Academic year Undergraduate Postgraduate Total 
			 2006/07 1,910 415 2,320 
			 2007/08 2,060 405 2,465 
			 2008/09 2,300 430 2,730 
			 2009/10 2,545 520 3,060 
			 2010/11 2,345 485 2,830 
			 (1) Domicile refers to a student’s permanent or home address prior to entry of the course. (2) Covers students in their first year of study. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Hull University

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK students studying at the university of Hull have yet to receive a student finance payment for this financial year.

David Willetts: The following table provides a breakdown of payments for academic year 2012/13 on or before the 21 November made by Student Finance England to Hull university students domiciled in England and entitled to maintenance support. (Figures for payments to UK-wide students are not easily available).
	
		
			 Description Applications to Hull University for AY 2012/13 
			 Applications prepared for payment with maintenance support entitlement: 9,900 
			   
			 Of which:  
			 Attendance confirmed and first payment made 9,390 
			 First payment made to those studying away from the institution (medical course, placement etc) 220 
			 Attendance confirmed and first payment will be made at term start date or is currently in the banking system 60 
			 Awaiting confirmation of attendance from the institution 220 
		
	
	
		
			 Attendance confirmed but first payment withheld (1)10 
			 (1) Payments are withheld in exceptional cases for example where the bank details provided by the applicant have been found to be invalid or where the NINO has not yet been validated.

Hull University

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students of Hull university had outstanding student finance applications on (a) 24 September, (b) 8 October, (c) 22 October, (d) 5 November and (e) 19 November 2012.

David Willetts: Table 1 sets out the total number of Hull university student finance applications submitted to Student Finance England on the specified dates, along with those outstanding. Table 2 provides a breakdown of the outstanding applications.
	For students that apply near the start of term, or for those who have not yet supplied the required evidence of household income, SLC will do everything it can to ensure they get at least the basic non means-tested maintenance loan and tuition fee loan so that the student can start their course, and will pay any additional amounts due as soon as possible after the start of term.
	
		
			 Table 1 
			  2012 
			  24 September 8 October 22 October 5 November 19 November 
			 Total number of applications for academic year 2012/13 10,490 10,610 10,690 10,740 10,790 
			 Total number of student finance application outstanding 1,210 860 660 490 380 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2 
			  2012 
			  24 September 8 October 22 October 5 November 19 November 
			 Applications awaiting signatures from applicant 640 410 320 260 220 
			 Applications awaiting further details or evidence 340 260 210 150 120 
			 Applications currently being assessed 230 190 130 80 40

Industry: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he last met Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss the Scottish manufacturing and construction sectors; and when he plans next to meet Ministers in the Scottish Government for such discussions.

Michael Fallon: There have been no recent discussions at ministerial level about these specific issues with the Scottish Government, and none are planned, but BIS officials are in regular contact with officials in the Scottish Government on a wide-range of issues affecting the manufacturing and construction sectors.

Regional Growth Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2012, Official Report, column 779W, on Regional Growth Fund, what the (a) number and (b) monetary value of (i) bids and (ii) individual awards under round one of the Regional Growth Fund is which have not yet received a final agreed offer.

Michael Fallon: From the first Regional Growth Fund (RGF) round 10 bids amounting to £64.2 million are yet to agree a final offer. These bids equate to 10 individual awards.

Research and Development Tax Credits

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent conversations (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have had with HM Treasury on the effect on the UK life sciences industry of above the line research and development tax credits.

David Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and his ministerial colleagues regularly meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss a range of business issues.

Student Finance

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average length of time to process a student finance application was in academic year (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13 to date.

David Willetts: The following table provides the average processing times for student finance applications for academic years (AY) 2009/10 to 2011/12. These show significant year on year improvements:
	
		
			 Academic year (AY) Average processing times for student finance applications from new and continuing students (weeks) 
			 2009/10 (1)12.4 
			 2010/11 9.9 
			 2011/12 6.8 
			 (1) New students only. 2009/10 was the first year of SLC's processing service for students domiciled in England. 
		
	
	The information is not available in this format for AY 2012/13. For financial year (FY) 2012/13 by the end of October, 96.8% of applications were processed within the current target of 20 days and 98.7% in 30 days. These figures apply to student finance applications for all academic years including AY 2012/13, although it is true that the bulk of the applications processed this financial year are in respect of AY 2012/13.

Student Loans

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 35WS, on advanced learning loans, what progress he has made in aligning resources to ensure participation in STEM subjects is maintained following the introduction of advanced learning loans.

Matthew Hancock: In the written ministerial statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 35-36WS, we confirmed our intention to provide learners with the information they need about 24+ advanced learning loans, and alongside this, to maintain and grow participation in STEM programmes.
	We have looked at the options for using capital funding to strengthen the incentives for learners eligible for 24+ advanced learning loans to take up courses in STEM subjects. Data on the take-up of loans in the first year of introduction (2013-14) will inform our conclusions and the action we decide to take.
	Potential learners should have the information they need about costs and benefits when deciding whether to take out a loan. While courses in STEM subjects tend to be higher cost, the financial return to the learner from gaining a STEM qualification is typically greater. In addition, the introduction of 24+ advanced learning loans means that no learner aged 24 and above studying at Level 3 will pay an up front fee, removing one of the main barriers to learning.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Wages Board

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government plan to publish their response to the consultation on the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board in Wales.

David Heath: holding answer 26 November 2012
	The Government will announce their decision on the recent consultation on the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales and the Agricultural Wages Committees and Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees in England once they have had the opportunity to consider the consultation responses.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration his Department has given to the welfare and care of animals whose owners' licences for wild circus animals are suspended under the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012.

David Heath: The person responsible for the operation of a travelling circus that has wild animals will need to hold a licence or be guilty of an offence. The Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 build on the Animal Welfare Act 2006 by requiring the operator to comply with licensing conditions, including providing for the welfare needs of wild animals as required by good practice. If an operator has its licence suspended, the owners of the wild animals used in the circus will still be responsible for caring for their animals in the same way as anybody else would be under the 2006 Act. The statutory duty of care will continue to apply to the owner as will the provisions on preventing unnecessary suffering.

Animals: Exports

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the review on live exports will report to him.

David Heath: I have received the report by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency on their internal review of procedures following the regrettable events on 12 September at Ramsgate. At the request of Kent Trading Standards as prosecuting authority and on the basis of legal advice, the report will not be made publicly available until investigations or any prosecution action is completed.

Animals: Exports

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been destroyed due to poor health while they were in transit as part of the live exports trade in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Heath: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) does not hold records for the numbers of animals that have had to be euthanized as a result of becoming unfit during a journey, for exports of all species from the United Kingdom. However, in relation to the trade in live animals currently being exported through Ramsgate port, AHVLA records show that during 2012 (up to the end of October) its inspectors identified 45 animals that were not fit to continue with their journey and required them to be euthanized. This represents 0.1% of the total number of animals (36,850) exported through the port over the same period.

Ash Dieback Disease

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates officials from his Department met with officials of the Scottish Government to discuss Chalara fraxinea.

David Heath: Officials from the devolved Administrations participate in or receive the minutes of monthly meetings with the Food and Environment Research Agency, which represents DEFRA on plant health issues, and the Forestry Commission (FC). These meetings discuss a range of plant health risks including Chalara and actions taken in respect of those risks.
	Officials from the devolved Administrations join by telephone the UK progress meetings on the Chalara outbreak which currently take place three times per week. They also join by telephone the policy core group which currently meets weekly.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs chaired cross-Government meetings on 2 and 9 November to which Ministers from the devolved Administrations were invited. A Minister from the Scottish Government joined the meeting while the other devolved Administrations were represented by senior officials.
	Officials from FC GB attended the Scottish Chalara summit on 13 November. This issue was also discussed at a meeting between DEFRA Ministers and Ministers/officials from the devolved Administrations on 19 November.

Beaches: Saltburn

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department will provide additional funding to (a) the Environment Agency, (b) Redcar and Cleveland borough council and (c) Northumbrian Water to improve bathing water quality in Saltburn.

Richard Benyon: As indicated in my answer of 19 November to the hon. Member on 19 November 2012, Official Report, 19 November 2012, column 327W, the Environment Agency has established a working group and believes that the investigations and actions currently being undertaken will give the best possible chance of meeting bathing water directive requirements at Saltburn well into the future. Where investigations reveal the need for further improvements, there are likely to be a range of ways to finance these, depending on the source of pollution. If appropriate, this may include direct funding from DEFRA.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the spread of bovine tuberculosis in the next decade if the Government were to take no measures to halt that spread.

David Heath: The cost of the disease to the taxpayer is set to top £1 billion in England over the next 10 years if we do not take further measures to halt its spread.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to his proposed licensing regime for badger culls, what redress there will be against licence holders in areas where they fail to meet the minimum percentage cull that would prevent the further spread of bovine TB.

David Heath: In the event that the minimum cull is not achieved within six weeks, the licensee is required to submit proposals to Natural England for achieving the minimum cull in that year and to implement them, or other proposals, specified by Natural England.
	The agreement also gives the Secretary of State and Natural England the right to recover from the licence holder any costs incurred by them in carrying out any culling if that is felt necessary. The right to enter the land to carry out such culling is secured by agreements with each landowner and under these agreements the costs to carry out culling are also recoverable from the landowner.

Common Agricultural Policy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his top priorities for reform of the common agricultural policy are.

David Heath: The common agricultural policy (CAP) budget needs to see very significant reductions focused on Pillar 1. The CAP needs to help achieve an efficient and responsive agricultural sector in the EU and globally. In that context the UK's key aims for the UK's CAP reform negotiations are:
	To increase the resilience, market orientation and international competitiveness of EU agriculture;
	To improve CAP'S capacity to deliver environmental outcomes; and
	To simplify CAP for farmers and authorities.

Common Agricultural Policy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what specific role (a) Ministers and (b) officials of the devolved administrations will play in future negotiations on (a) reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and (b) the budget for the CAP.

David Heath: Ministers and senior officials meet regularly with counterparts in the devolved Administrations (DA) seeking their views on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), in accordance with the Memoranda of Understanding. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I recently met with devolved Ministers to discuss their views on the reform of the CAP. We agreed we need to ensure we receive the necessary flexibility within the current proposals so implementation can reflect the agronomic and ecological diversity of the different parts of the UK. At the Secretary of State's discretion devolved Ministers have been assured attendance at Agriculture Councils.
	International negotiations, including those on the reform of the CAP, are reserved matters and in such circumstances it is appropriate for the UK Minister to represent the UK as the member state, speaking to a single position. What gives us real strength in European negotiations is the fact that we discuss between ourselves what matters to all parts of the UK, and then speak coherently on our shared objectives.
	Although the EU Budget is not a devolved matter, devolved Ministers are kept informed of how the negotiations are progressing. It is important to recognise that Government has a responsibility to consider the UK's wider interests including those of the UK taxpayer.

Common Agricultural Policy

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress he has made on negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

David Heath: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013 are currently under way. The Government have been actively involved in the discussions at ministerial as well as official level and we have seen some progress, for example amendments to the active farmer test which should reduce implementation burdens.
	However, there is still a long way to go until the CAP regulations are simpler or deliver greater environmental benefits and public goods across the EU. As such we remain fully committed to ensuring that the UK negotiates with the European Commission, the European Parliament and other member states so that CAP helps to achieve an efficient and responsive agricultural sector in the EU and globally.

Dairy Farming: Animal Welfare

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential risks to animal welfare of the intensification and industrialisation of dairy farming;

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential animal welfare risks of increased intensification and industrialisation of dairy farming; and what those risks are.

David Heath: Operational livestock farms must comply with all relevant legislation, including comprehensive environmental and animal welfare legislation, which will apply equally to all farms whatever the size of unit or system of production. Indeed, the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (formerly the Farm Animal Welfare Council), which advises DEFRA on matters relating to animal welfare has stated that the most significant influence on the welfare of livestock is the stock-keeper, not the system in which it is reared.

Dairy Products

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the deficit in dairy products.

David Heath: Because of its strong natural dairying advantages, the UK is well-placed to exploit domestic (particularly added value) and export markets. The potential in export markets is likely to increase with an expanding world population and global shifts in diets. A recent success in dairy has been a successful food trade delegation to China, led by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. UKTI and DEFRA will continue to work in partnership with industry to explore the potential for growth through overseas trade and to identify global market opportunities for firms of all sizes.

Dairy Products: Imports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to reduce imports of dairy products and to increase the UK's self-sufficiency in this area.

David Heath: The Government aim for a profitable, thriving, and competitive UK dairy sector that exploits domestic (particularly added value) and export markets to the benefit of all parts of the industry. The Government are taking steps to help; for example, by investing substantial funds into research for the sector, supporting dairy industry collaboration, and encouraging contractual best practice and improved relationships throughout the supply chain. However, the dairy industry itself has a significant responsibility for its own future and is far better placed than Government to lead change in many respects. Hence, for example, the Dairy Coalition of farming groups has committed to campaigning to promote British cheese and other dairy products to consumers and to retailers, both in the domestic market and abroad.

Dairy Products: United Arab Emirates

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of export of British dairy products to the United Arab Emirates was in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

David Heath: The value of UK exports of dairy products to the United Arab Emirates is recorded in HM Revenue and Customs overseas trade statistics as £7.5 million in 2010 and £9.4 million in 2011.

Farms

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms have closed down in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Cumbria in each of the last five years; and what steps the Government are taking to support those farmers who are in financial difficulty.

David Heath: holding answer 13 November 2012
	It is not possible to determine how many farms have closed during the last five years. DEFRA measures the number of registered commercial farm holdings but the number of holdings in each farm business can change over time for administrative and other reasons. The area of land on agricultural holdings in England, the North West and Cumbria has however remained largely unchanged during the last five years.
	DEFRA's aim is to create the right conditions to enable farm businesses to be successful, productive and more resilient to difficult economic circumstances. We are for example seeking to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, fund scientific research into how food production can be increased sustainably and support farmers in increasing their competitiveness and develop their skills through the Rural Development programme for England.

Farms: Safety

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on a strategy to improve safety on farms.

David Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), has had no discussions with counterparts in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland on a strategy to improve safety on farms. Health and safety in the agriculture industry is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

Greyhounds: Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the use of bolt guns to destroy greyhounds.

David Heath: Best practice is to euthanize a dog by intravenous injection of an overdose of barbiturates by a vet. However, where this option is not possible or available, alternatives may need to be sought. The use of a suitable captive bolt gun, applied correctly by a trained and competent person, may be part of an alternative humane method for putting down dogs.

Gulls

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking in response to trends in the population of urban gulls.

Richard Benyon: I recognise that new gull population centres in some urban areas have shown expansion and that several areas continue to see increases.
	I believe that the powers available to local authorities and other authorised persons to take licensed action where gulls are causing specific problems, combined with other measures including efficient management of waste and ensuring the public refrain from feeding gulls, are sufficient.

Horses: Animal Welfare

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the report “Left on the Verge”, on horse welfare, published in October 2012 by the RSPCA, Redwings, World Horse Welfare, The Blue Cross, Horseworld and the British Horse Society; and if he will arrange to meet those organisations to discuss the report's findings.

David Heath: I have seen the report “Left on the Verge” and am aware of the problems that it highlights. DEFRA is in discussion with the authors of the report as well as other interested parties to resolve the issues.

Independent Panel on Forestry

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Forestry report.

David Heath: holding answer 26 November 2012
	We are currently considering the report from the Independent Panel on Forestry and will publish our response to it in January 2013.

Livestock: Exports

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) animal health inspectors are present whenever live animals are exported, (b) welfare standards are maintained when live animals are exported and (c) any welfare infringements are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner.

David Heath: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) is responsible for implementation of the EU rules on the protection of animals during transport (Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005). AHVLA has recently increased the inspection rate of animals and vehicles at the point of loading to 100% and will remain at that level until the risks involved merit a more normal risk-based percentage of inspections.
	The checks undertaken by AHVLA inspectors at the point of loading include consignment details, transporter/driver details, journey details and a separate checklist of 33 questions on the suitability of the vehicle and the welfare of the animals being transported. Any non-compliances are recorded and the necessary action taken by AHVLA inspectors. A further check is made by AHVLA inspectors at the port to ensure nothing untoward has occurred during the transport from the point of loading.

Livestock: Exports

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the export of live animals; and whether he plans to change current guidelines on the export of live animals.

David Heath: Whilst the Government would prefer a trade in meat and germ plasm to a trade in live animals, they cannot ban a legal trade. This has been demonstrated in the courts (both here and in Brussels) on a number of occasions during the 1990s. A key High Court judgment was that of Lord Justice Simon Brown in the 1995 joined cases of R v. Dover Harbour Board (ex parte Gilder). R v. Associated British Ports ex parte Plymouth City Council and the European Court of Justice case C - 1/96 R v. MAFF ex parte CIWF.
	The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), which is responsible for implementation of the EU rules on the protection of animals during transport (Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005), has 'taken a number of recent measures, including an increase in the inspection of animals and vehicles at the point of loading.

Natural Resources: Security

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will press for the inclusion of goals in relation to resource security in the successor to the millennium development goals after 2015.

Richard Benyon: Following the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development in June, the Government are actively engaged in work to take forward the outcomes, including through the Prime Minister's co-chairmanship of the UN Secretary General's High-Level Panel on the post-2015 development framework, and the process on Sustainable Development Goals via the Open Working Group. We will be looking to ensure that this work integrates the three dimensions of sustainable development—environmental, social and economic— but discussions on the exact nature of the goals have not yet begun.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) received in Government grants in the years (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; and how much the RSPB will receive in such grants in 2012.

Richard Benyon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my noble Friend Lord Henley to Baroness Byford on 6 June 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA61, for details pertaining to payments made to the RSPB in the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11, and to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Sir James Paice) to my right hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Nicholas Soames) on 3 September 2012, Official Report, column 124W, which included details of payments made to the RSPB in 2011-12.
	Core DEFRA plans to make payments to RSPB in 2012-13 totalling £871,936.60. This sum primarily relates to grants made under the Darwin Initiative, and a number of other research projects.

Schmallenberg Virus

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress has been made on the Government's Schmallenberg virus strategy.

David Heath: Over the summer, enhanced surveillance testing funded by DEFRA has identified Schmallenberg virus across much of England. Information on the counties where disease has been found, the affected species and the type of test carried out has been published on the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency website so that farmers, in consultation with their vets, can use this in making appropriate decisions for their herds and flocks. Testing for Schmallenberg virus, including bulk milk testing, is now commercially available for individual farm testing.
	Infection in adult cattle and sheep is mild and transient and we believe produces good immunity, giving subsequent protection during pregnancy.
	DEFRA is supporting research into Schmallenberg virus in the UK and working collaboratively with other member states to address the many unknowns about this new disease. Research is focused on understanding more about the epidemiology, immunity, transmission pathways, reservoir hosts and pathogenicity of the virus.
	We are aware of the development of commercial vaccines against Schmallenberg virus and that a submission has been made to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for approval. Deployment of the vaccine will be a decision for the farmer and livestock keeper to take in consultation with his/her private veterinarian, considering the management of that flock/herd. Given the widespread prevalence of the Schmallenberg virus, the apparent acquired immunity and the low impact of the disease, it is possible there will be little cost benefit to vaccinating flocks and herds every year.

Schmallenberg Virus

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Schmallenberg virus vaccine produced by MSD Animal Health in protecting pregnant calves, lambs and ewes.

David Heath: On receipt of any application for an authorisation of a veterinary medicine, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) assesses the application for safety, quality and efficacy of the product in accordance with agreed European procedures. If a marketing authorisation is granted, a summary of product characteristics will be published on the VMD's website.
	Details of specific applications are commercially confidential.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on industry of the rolling over of the uncompleted Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and Community Energy Saving Programme obligations into 2013.

Gregory Barker: Both the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and Community Energy Saving Programme end on 31 December 2012. As the Government has previously stated, the schemes will not be extended.
	Ofgem, whose role is to administer and enforce both schemes, have said that if companies fail to meet their targets most weight will be given to mitigating actions that take the form of CERT/CESP measures delivered shortly after 31 December 2012.

Combined Heat and Power

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether combined heat and power will have a significant role in the Government's forthcoming gas generation strategy.

Gregory Barker: Combined Heat and Power is the most energy efficient way of converting a given fuel into both heat and power. Much of the potential for Combined Heat And Power in the UK is in industrial sectors, providing heat for industrial processes. There is also significant potential in public and commercial buildings, providing heat for space and water heating. The role of Combined Heat and Power as an energy saving measure is discussed in more detail in the Department's recent Energy Efficiency Strategy.
	We will be publishing the Gas Generation Strategy alongside the autumn energy statement.

Energy

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that members of the public are informed about (a) developments in the energy market and (b) levels of competition within that industry.

Gregory Barker: The Government provide an Energy Statement to Parliament each year to set out the developments in energy policy and to guide investment. We will be publishing the 2012 document shortly.
	Ofgem, as the independent regulator of the gas and electricity markets, published an assessment of competition in the retail energy market in its Retail Market Review. Ofgem's latest Retail Market Review documents were published on 26 October.
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/rmr/Pages/rmr.aspx

Energy: Conservation

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what steps he is taking in negotiations within the EU to protect the UK's current reduced rate of VAT for energy-saving materials;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the European Commission's Reasoned Opinion on the UK's current reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials on (a) the Green Deal and (b) the EU Energy Efficiency Directive;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the Reasoned Opinion of the European Commission on the UK's reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials.

Gregory Barker: HM Treasury Ministers have been leading on responses to communications from the European Commission on the UK's reduced rate of VAT on the installation of energy saving materials for the Government. This is an important issue for economic, environmental and social policy, driving reductions in costs for households, reducing emissions and stimulating economic growth. This is even more true in a time of recession.
	The Government disagree with the European Commission's view that the current reduced rate of 5% VAT for the installation of energy saving materials is unlawful and will vigorously defend the relief if the European Commission refers the matter to the European Court of Justice. Current assessments suggest that the earliest a case might be heard in front of the European Court of Justice is 2014.

Energy: Conservation

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total value of the UK energy efficiency sector is; what estimate he has made of the projected growth of that sector over the next 10 years; and if he will estimate the potential financial effect of the European Commission's Reasoned Opinion on the UK's current reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials on that sector.

Gregory Barker: The UK energy efficiency sector had sales of £17.6 billion in 2010-11(1). Sales for the low carbon and environmental sector as a whole are projected to grow by 5% per year between 2010-11 and 2014-15. No central estimate has been made for the growth in the UK energy efficiency sector for the next 10 years.
	No financial assessment has been made of the impact of the European Commission's Reasoned Opinion on the UK's VAT rate for energy saving materials.
	(1) A report on the Low Carbon Environmental Good and Services (LCEGS) for 2010-11 was published by BIS in May 2012 and estimates the size of the subsectors with:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/BISCore/business-sectors/docs/1/12-p143-low-carbon-environmental-goods-and-services-2010-11.pdf

Energy: Conservation

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received from the (a) energy efficiency sector and (b) construction sector on the European Commission's Reasoned Opinion on the UK's reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials.

Gregory Barker: HM Treasury Ministers have been leading on responses to communications from the European Commission on the UK's reduced rate of VAT on the installation of energy saving materials for the Government.
	The Government have received a recent representative letter from a coalition of charities, NGOs, businesses and consumer groups to express their concern relating to the European Commission's Reasoned Opinion on the UK's reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials.

Energy: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received from Ministers in the Scottish Government in relation to energy bills; and if he will publish any such representations.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 26 November 2012
	DECC Ministers and officials receive a number of representations from other Government Departments and the devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Government, on a range of issues. Following Cabinet Office guidelines we do not publish details of any such discussions or meetings.

Energy: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last met a Minister in the Scottish Government to discuss energy bills in the UK.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 26 November 2012
	DECC Ministers regularly meet with Ministers from other Government Departments and the devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Government to discuss a range of issues.

Fuel Poverty

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households that will be lifted out of fuel poverty as a result of the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation in (a) 2012, (b) 2013, (c) 2014 and (d) 2015.

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households that will be lifted out of fuel poverty as a result of the Green Deal and energy company obligation in (a) 2012, (b) 2013, (c) 2014 and (d) 2015.

Gregory Barker: The Energy Company Obligation is worth an estimated £1.3 billion per year. It is expected that each year support worth around £540 million will go towards low income and vulnerable households under ECO's Affordable Warmth and Carbon Saving Communities elements. We estimate this will lead to some 230,000 households per annum receiving support.
	As set out in the final impact assessment, it is challenging to project and quantify the impact on fuel poverty of the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) policy framework. This is because of a number of uncertainties, such as which households take-up which measures and the costs of delivering measures over time. There is also inherent uncertainty around changes in the level and distribution of incomes across households, changes to the housing stock independent of the Green Deal and ECO and, of course, energy prices. Nevertheless, based on projected changes in incomes, prices and the housing stock, the measures installed under Green Deal and ECO are estimated to result in a net reduction in fuel poverty of between 125,000 to 250,000 households by the time the costs of ECO are no longer passed through to bills in 2023. Estimates for other years are not available.
	The final impact assessment can be viewed at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf.

Fuel Poverty

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects on fuel poverty of the introduction of the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation.

Gregory Barker: The Energy Company Obligation is worth an estimated £1.3 billion per year. It is expected that each year support worth around £540 million will go towards low income and vulnerable households under ECO's Affordable Warmth and Carbon Saving Communities elements. We estimate this will lead to some 230,000 households per annum receiving support.
	As set out in the final impact assessment, it is challenging to project and quantify the impact on fuel poverty of the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation policy framework. This is because of a number of uncertainties, such as which households take-up which measures and the costs of delivering measures over time. There is also inherent uncertainty around changes in the level and distribution of incomes across households, changes to the housing stock independent of the Green Deal and ECO and, of course, energy prices; Nevertheless, based on projected changes in incomes, prices and the housing stock, the measures installed under Green Deal and ECO are estimated to result in a net reduction in fuel poverty of between 125,000 to 250,000 households by the time the costs of ECO are no longer passed through to bills in 2023.
	The final impact assessment can be viewed at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf

Garages and Petrol Stations

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what research his Department has carried out since 2000 into the number of retail petrol sites required in the UK to ensure the maintenance of adequate supplies of fuels to both urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects the study of the petrol forecourt industry carried out jointly by his Department and the Department of Transport to be completed; and if he will publish the findings of that study.

John Hayes: Earlier this year DECC commissioned a report from Deloitte on the retail market for road fuels. This will expand the evidence base on the size and shape of the market and inform the Government's understanding of the implications of reductions in the number of petrol filling stations on the security of supply and resilience of the downstream oil sector. I recently spoke on these issues in a Backbench Select Committee debate "The Effects of the Oil Market on Petrol and Diesel Prices". As a result of this debate, the study will also now include analysis of how far people have to travel to reach their nearest petrol station, and how this has changed over time.
	This report is due to be published before the end of the year, and I will write to all Members of the House with details of the findings. The report will also be shared with OFT to consider as part of their call for information on the petrol and diesel sector in the UK. The purpose of a call for information is to gather intelligence about the way a market operates in order to get a clear picture of any problems in the market and to determine whether further work in this area may be required. OFT will publish their findings in January 2013.

Green Deal Scheme

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage take-up of the Green Deal by consumers.

Gregory Barker: Uptake of the Green Deal by consumers will be encouraged in a number of ways:
	Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
	The new ECO is expected to provide about £1.3 billion of support each year for energy saving home improvements targeted at low income and vulnerable households and hard-to-treat properties.
	Launch Incentives
	DECC has announced a Green Deal Cashback Scheme in England and Wales worth £125 million, which will reward households taking early action to improve the energy efficiency of their property through the Green Deal with direct cash payments from Government. Amounts could be £1,000 or more per household depending on the improvements they install. The scheme is intended to support the transition to a new energy efficiency market framework by raising awareness of and demand for improvements installed through the Green Deal.
	Core Cities
	We are giving £12 million of funding to seven major cities. The money will support ‘demonstrator’ projects to trial key aspects of the Green Deal and support future activity in these areas. Activity includes Green Deal assessments, loan arrangements to fund work and show homes to provide local examples of what can be achieved.
	Building on this we are offering local authorities in England the opportunity to bid for £10 million to support early delivery and promote future demand for the Green Deal.
	Consumer Engagement
	The Green Deal will be market driven, with Green Deal participants leading consumer engagement using their brands and their customer knowledge. However, Government has an important role in three key areas:
	(1) Creating momentum for change—working with supply chain partners, local government and others to encourage people to make their properties more energy efficient.
	(2) Providing support to consumers—clear, simple information, e.g. Green Deal Quick Guides and working with intermediaries.
	(3) Building trust and confidence—raising awareness and understanding of the Quality Mark, providing impartial advice online at gov.uk/greendeal and via the Energy Saving Advice Service helpline.
	Activity will steadily ramp up as the Green Deal goes live in late January.

Green Deal Scheme

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Green Deal Finance Company to offer loans from 28 January 2013.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 26 November 2012
	The Green Deal Finance Company is a private sector organisation. However, my understanding is that they are on track to offer finance for those Green Deal Providers who choose to make use of their services by 28 January 2013.

Insulation: Housing

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the number of jobs in the (a) cavity wall and (b) loft insulation industry in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013, (iii) 2014 and (iv) 2015.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 26 November 2012
	The June 2012 Final Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Impact Assessment(1) (IA) provides an estimate of the total jobs supported in the insulation sector. It estimates that the number of jobs in the insulation industry will rise from around 27,000 in 2007-08(2) to between 39,000 and 60,000 (full-time equivalent) by 2015.
	The impact assessment also shows that on the basis of reaching 60,000 jobs by 2015 (the upper estimate) employment in the insulation sector is projected to increase each year up to 2015, from just over 40,000 in 2013, to just over 50,000 in 2014.
	These are jobs that will be supported by installation of the main household insulation measures (solid wall, cavity wall, loft and floor). The IA did not disaggregate numbers between the different types of insulation. Other measures are expected to be taken up as a result of the Green Deal and ECO, but these have not been quantified for their employment impacts.
	These employment ranges are derived using market intelligence for the resources required to meet expected installation rates of measures, and employment multipliers from spending in the sector. DECC is planning to use the same methodology to estimate the number of jobs supported by Green Deal and ECO-driven energy efficiency installations going forward.
	(1 )http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf
	(2) Underlying data: Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an Industry Analysis; Innovas; 2009

Insulation: Housing

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the number of jobs in the loft cavity wall and solid wall insulation industries in 2013 of delay in the introduction of Green Deal finance for more than three months beyond 28 January 2013.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Legislation allows for Green Deal Plans to be written from 28 January 2013. We do not expect there to be any delay.
	The June 2012 Final Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Impact Assessment(1) provides estimates of these policies' impacts on employment in the insulation sector.
	(1)Note:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf
	External estimates by Innovas suggest that around 4,700 installers were employed in the insulation market in 2007-08, which covers loft and wall insulation, and another 22,000 were employed in the wider supply chain(2).
	(2) Underlying data: Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an Industry Analysis; Innovas; 2009
	Under Green Deal and ECO this total is expected to rise to between 39,000 and 60,000 (full-time equivalent) jobs by 2015 supported by installation of the main household insulation measures (solid wall, cavity wall, loft and floor). Other measures are expected to be taken up as a result of the Green Deal and ECO but these have not been quantified for their employment impacts.

Severn Estuary

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his assessment is of the conclusion of Lord Heseltine in his report No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth, published in October 2012, that the construction of a barrage across the Severn estuary would offer the possibility of extraordinary economic regeneration.

Gregory Barker: The comments in my noble Friend the Lord Heseltine's 'No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth' report on the economic regeneration potential of a Severn barrage project broadly align with some of the findings of the Severn Tidal Power study. The study, however also recognised that economic benefits would need to be balanced against the costs, in particular the large capital cost of a Severn Scheme and the environmental impact of the project.

Wind Power

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the number of wind turbines taking advantage of the feed-in tariff scheme for (a) turbines emitting more than and (b) turbines emitting less than 500kW in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK.

Gregory Barker: The following table shows a breakdown of the number of wind installations, as at the end of October 2012, that have been confirmed on the feed-in tariff scheme since it began in April 2010.
	
		
			 Geography Capacity kW Number of wind installations confirmed through FiTs as at the end of October 2012 
			 UK Less than or equal to 500 kW 3,521 
			  More than 500 kW 31 
			 Scotland Less than or equal to 500 kW 1,308 
			  More than 500 kW 5 
			 Note: Of the 3,552 wind installations confirmed on the FiT scheme in the UK, there are 361 wind installations with no regional information. Therefore, the total number of wind installations quoted for Scotland could potentially be higher. Source: Central Feed-in Tariff Register, Ofgem

Written Questions

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) shortest and (b) longest time taken by his Department to answer a written parliamentary question was in (i) 2012 to date, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2010.

Gregory Barker: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Number of days 
			  Shortest time taken to answer a written PQ Longest time taken to answer a written PQ 
			 2012 2 14 
			 2011 2 17 
			 2010(1) 2 20 
			 (1) For 2010 these figures are taken from May until end December. Prior to May details were not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Maintenance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2012, Official Report, column 156W, on children: maintenance, 
	(1)  what progress he has made on investigating the effect of the 12-month rule relating to the use of minutes of agreement in relation to child support;
	(2)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Justice, the Scottish Government and the legal community regarding the use of minutes of agreement in relation to child support.

Steve Webb: In conjunction with the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government, officials have recently written to the Law Society Scotland, the Scottish Family Law Association, Resolution, and the Law Society (England and Wales) setting out our desire to meet to discuss the interaction of the statutory child maintenance system with mechanisms within family law, both North and South of the border. This includes minutes of agreements and consent orders in relation to child maintenance. We are in the process of contacting colleagues in these organisations for confirmation of these meetings, and hope to conduct these early in the new year.

Disability Living Allowance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his officials have had with Motability on the implications for its scheme of the replacement of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance by the personal independence payment for people of working age.

Esther McVey: We are continuing to work closely with Motability to understand what impact personal independence payment roll out plans might have on their customer numbers and to ensure Motability are well placed to manage the introduction of the new benefit.

Disability Living Allowance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the length of time recipients of disability living allowance who have their Motability component stopped will have to wait to have an appeal heard once their reassessment programme for transfer to the personal independence payment begins.

Esther McVey: We have made no such estimate. From April 2013 end-to-end responsibility for appeals against decisions on disability living allowance and personal independence payment will be a matter for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
	This Department has been working closely with HMCTS to minimise delays to all appeals, including introducing a mandatory reconsideration process before appeals can be made to HMCTS.
	Mandatory reconsiderations are intended to provide claimants with a further opportunity to present additional evidence which may result in the decision on their award being revised or upheld. The process will be more efficient for claimants and reduce the number of appeals being made.

Disability: Unemployment

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the differential effect of unemployment on disabled people in the North East.

Esther McVey: The following table sets out the employment, inactivity and unemployment rates for disabled and non disabled people in the North East. The difference in labour market outcomes for these two groups underlines why employment and support allowance, the Work Programme and specialist disability employment programmes are so important. The Government has announced significant improvements to Access to Work, with an additional £15 million over this spending review period. This has allowed eligibility to be extended to young disabled people undertaking work experience under the Youth Contract.
	
		
			 Employment, unemployment and inactivity rates in the North East Q3 2012 
			 Percentage 
			  Non disabled Disabled 
			 Employment rate 75.4 40.4 
			 Unemployment rate 9.3 14.3 
			 Inactivity rate 16.8 52.7 
			 Note: In line with conventions the employment and inactivity rates are calculated on a 16-64 basis, and the unemployment rate is calculated on a 16+ basis with economically active population as the denominator. People are counted as disabled if they report they are disabled according to the Disability Discrimination Act definition. Source: Labour Force Survey, not seasonally adjusted

Employment and Support Allowance

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of employment and support allowance in the (a) work related activity group and (b) support group undertook permitted work from 2012 to date.

Mark Hoban: Information on ESA claimants by group requested is not available.

Epilepsy

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance had epilepsy in (a) Vauxhall constituency and (b) England and Wales since May 2010.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not available.

Housing Benefit: Wales

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what meetings he has had with Welsh Government Ministers to discuss housing benefit reform.

Mark Hoban: The Secretary of State and the Department's Ministers meet regularly with Welsh Government Ministers to discuss a range of topics.

Jobcentre Plus

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent consideration he has given to the provision of Jobcentre Plus services at locations other than Jobcentre Plus offices.

Mark Hoban: The provision of Jobcentre Plus services at locations other than Jobcentre Plus offices is reviewed regularly to ensure that Jobcentre Plus' commitment to a location is providing the outcomes and objectives agreed at the outset of the arrangement. The locations may include local authority premises, prisons, children's centres and libraries.

Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people normally resident in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency who are employed by his Department.

Mark Hoban: The number of people, employed by the Department, who are normally resident in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency, is estimated to be 223. This figure has been obtained from centrally held staff records where the individual's home address is recorded as being in one of following postcode areas, KA1, 3, 4, 5, 16, 17 and 18. There is some overlap in all of these postcodes with other constituencies, but it is not possible to break the postcode data down further.

Learning Disability

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against the withdrawal of benefit following a work capability assessment involved people with a learning disability in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such appeals was successful.

Mark Hoban: For initial ESA claims that started during 2009 there have been 10 successful appeals and 0 unsuccessful appeals heard against Fit for Work decisions for people with learning disabilities. In 2010 and 2011 the figures for both successful and unsuccessful appeals round to 0. For reasons of confidentiality figures are rounded to the nearest 10 as standard.
	Notes
	1. The following World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) codes relating to mental retardation have been used to identify claimants with a learning disability: F70, F71, F72, F73, F78 and F79.
	2. The figures above only include outcomes of appeals against initial WCA outcomes. To produce information on repeat assessments and incapacity benefit reassessment and incapacity benefit reassessment outcomes would exceed disproportionate cost.

Learning Disability

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data is recorded by (a) his Department and (b) Atos on the number of people with learning disabilities who had an advocate or other person present during their work capability assessment.

Mark Hoban: With regard to the data being recorded for people with learning disabilities who had an advocate or other person present during their work capability assessment, neither the Department for Work and Pensions or Atos Healthcare collates this data.

Learning Disability

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with learning disabilities have been (a) given a work capability assessment by Atos and (b) had benefit withdrawn as a consequence in each of the last three years in each region.

Mark Hoban: Table 1 shows the outcomes of initial and repeat functional assessments completed in each 12-month period between June 2009 and May 2012, the latest available data, for new ESA claims where learning disability is the primary medical condition, broken down by region. Please note that incapacity benefits reassessment cases are not included in this table. This table combines the relevant breakdowns of tables 2a and 2b from the quarterly ESA new claims publication, which can be found at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
	
		
			 Table 1: Outcomes of initial and repeat functional assessments completed in each 12-month period between June 2009 and May 2012 for new ESA claims where learning disability is the primary medical condition, by region 
			 Date assessment completed Region Support Group Work Related Activity Group Fit for Work Any outcome 
			 June 2009 to May 2010 East Midlands 10 — — 10 
			  Eastern 10 — — 10 
			  London 10 10 — 20 
			  North East — — — 10 
			  North West 10 — — 20 
			  Scotland 10 — — 10 
			  South East 10 — — 10 
			  South West 10 — — 10 
			  Wales — — — 10 
			  West Midlands — — 10 10 
			  Yorks and Humber 10 10 10 20 
			  Total 80 30 20 130 
			       
			 June 2010 to May 2011 East Midlands 10 — — 10 
			  Eastern 10 — — 10 
			  London 10 10 10 20 
			  North East — — — — 
			  North West 20 — — 20 
			  Scotland 10 — — 10 
			  South East 10 — — 20 
			  South West 10 — — 10 
			  Wales — — — 10 
			  West Midlands — — — 10 
			  Yorks and Humber 10 10 — 20 
			  Total 80 40 20 140 
			       
			 June 2011 to May 2012 East Midlands 10 — — 20 
			  Eastern 10 10 — 20 
			  London 20 10 — 30 
			  North East 10 — — 10 
			  North West 30 10 — 30 
			  Scotland 10 10 — 10 
			  South East 10  — 20 
		
	
	
		
			  South West 10 — — 10 
			  Wales 10 — — 10 
			  West Midlands 10 10 — 20 
			  Yorks and Humber 20 — — 20 
			  Total 140 50 10 210 
			 Notes: 1. All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Hence totals may not sum exactly. 2. “—” indicates a nil or negligible value. 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the outcomes of incapacity benefits reassessments, adjusted to account for the outcomes of appeals, for claimants with learning disability as their primary medical condition that have been referred for reassessment before the end of February 2012 (the latest data available) by region. Please note that IBR started in autumn 2010 so only claims with a date of referral after this are presented in this table. This is a breakdown of table 2 from our incapacity benefits reassessment publication, which can be found at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_ibr
	
		
			 Table 2: Outcomes of incapacity benefits reassessments, adjusted to account for the outcomes of appeals, for claimants with learning disabilities referred for reassessment before the end o February 2012 
			 Region Support Group Work Related Activity Group Fit for Work Any outcome 
			 East Midlands 50 10 10 70 
			 Eastern 60 20 10 80 
			 London 80 30 10 120 
			 North East 40 20 10 70 
			 North West 100 40 10 140 
			 Scotland 90 30 10 120 
			 South East 70 20 10 100 
			 South West 50 10 10 70 
			 Wales 40 10 — 50 
			 West Midlands 100 30 10 140 
			 Yorks and Humber 80 20 10 110 
			 Total 740 240 90 1,080 
			 Notes: 1. All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Hence totals may not sum exactly. 2. “—” indicates a nil or negligible value. 
		
	
	The World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) codes(1) F70, F71, F72, F73, F78, F79 have been used to identify claimants with a learning disability:
	(1 )The WHO website provides more detail on this code applied to employment and support allowance cases at the following link:
	http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/

Learning Disability

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many hours of training is given to people carrying out work capability assessments in (a) mental health and (b) learning disabilities.

Mark Hoban: Doctors, nurses and physiotherapists working for Atos Healthcare are qualified professionals who have been registered with the relevant licensing bodies.
	Training on mental health and learning disabilities is a core part of the training Healthcare Professional's receive during the Atos Healthcare induction course and is a continuing feature throughout the course rather than in discrete modules. Doctors have a nine day course, nurses 18 days and physiotherapists 21 days. Training is not measured by hours.

Food Banks

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many food banks operate; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who use them.

Mark Hoban: DWP, through Jobcentre Plus, operates a simple signposting process to food banks. This builds on the Jobcentre Plus standard practice of holding, locally, the details of organisations who may be able to help claimants with concerns that are outside the remit of the DWP. Jobcentre Plus will only signpost claimants to food banks if there is no help available through DWP.
	DWP/Jobcentre Plus do not collate or hold numbers of people signposted to food banks or the reasons why individuals are referred. Jobcentre Plus is not the only route way for individuals to be signposted to a food bank.

Mesothelioma

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to bring forward secondary legislation to implement the mesothelioma support scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: We propose to bring forward legislation enabling a scheme to be set up to make payments so that anyone who is diagnosed from 25 July 2012 with diffuse mesothelioma, as a result of their negligent exposure to asbestos at work, and who is unable to trace their liable employer or their employer's insurance policy to claim against, is eligible to claim from this scheme.
	These proposals require primary legislation and we hope to introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Minimum Wage

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he made of the number of households with couples working 16 hours a week on the minimum wage living in their own home who pay £1,000 or more per year in council tax.

Steve Webb: This information is not available. Council tax is a matter for my colleague the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles).

Occupational Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost was of a transfer under (a) pot follows member and (b) an aggregator scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Department has estimated that the average marginal cost of a straightforward transfer is in the region of £50 for the ceding provider, and £55 for the receiving provider (a cost of £105 overall).
	Further details are available in the impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation response:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/small-pots-automatic-transfers-impact-assessment.pdf
	Current work with the pensions industry suggests that there is scope to bring the cost of transfers down significantly under either option. The Department is considering what steps should be taken to ensure that the transfer process is as efficient as possible going forward.

Older Workers

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department is encouraging firms to employ older people.

Steve Webb: The DWP's Age Positive Initiative provides guidance and case studies to employers and business organisations on employing older workers and the business benefits of adopting flexible approaches to work and retirement. Age Positive guidance is available at:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/agepositive
	Building on this work, the DWP and leading business and age expert organisations are working together through the Age Action Alliance's Healthy Workplaces group to develop and promote practical resources to help employers effectively manage the health and productivity of an ageing work force.

Social Security Benefits: Armed Forces

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answers of 3 September 2012, Official Report, column 175W, on social security benefits: armed forces, what assessment he has made of the number of armed forces personnel or their spouses whose eligibility for credits of Class1 national insurance contributions were affected by overseas postings prior to April 2010.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.

Unemployment Benefits: Ayrshire

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to the public purse was of out-of-work benefits in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (b) East Ayrshire local authority area in the last year for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: Benefit expenditure in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency for 2011-12 can be found in the expenditure by parliamentary constituency table published here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/pc_expenditure.xls
	Source:
	DWP Statistical and Accounting Data
	Benefit expenditure in East Ayrshire local authority for 2011-12 can be found in the expenditure by local authority table published here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/la_expenditure.xls
	Source:
	DWP Statistical and Accounting Data

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 7 July 2011, Official Report, column 1320W, on universal credit, 
	(1)  whether all new applications for out-of-work benefits will be treated as applications for universal credit from October 2013; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether all new applications for in-work benefits will be treated as applications for universal credit from April 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The four year process to stop claims to the benefits replaced by universal credit and to migrate existing claimants from the old system to the new will begin in October 2013 and be completed by the end of 2017. The exact timing and sequence of the migration process will be adjusted in the light of experience, not least from operating the pathfinder service in the Greater Manchester area from April 2013.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working-age benefit and credit recipients will be on universal credit by 2017.

Mark Hoban: We anticipate that all working age benefit and tax credit recipients who are entitled to universal credit will have been migrated onto universal credit by the end of 2017. On current projections this means that around 8 million households will be in receipt of universal credit by 2017.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Table 5 on page 21 of his Department's universal credit impact assessment published in October 2011, what the average cash increase in benefits will be for workless households where the first earner enjoys a lower participation tax rate under universal credit at (a) 10 hours, (b) 16 hours, (c) 25 hours and (d) 37 hours.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is available but it could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his planned introduction of universal credit, when new claims to (a) housing benefit, (b) tax credits, (c) jobseeker's allowance, (d) income support and (e) employment and support allowance will end.

Mark Hoban: The universal credit migration approach published on 1 November 2011 set out initial propositions for taking new claims to universal credit from October 2013.
	When new claims to current benefits and credits will end will depend on the detailed arrangements for managing the build-up of the universal credit caseload which are currently being finalised.

Vacancies: Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time vacancies were advertised in Jobcentre Plus in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: During October 2012, there were 355 full-time and 77 part-time vacancies advertised in Jobcentre Plus in Kilmarnock and Loudon constituency.
	These figures were sourced from NOMIS.

Work Capability Assessment

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people have been declared not fit to work by Atos Healthcare after taking the work capability assessment in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Walsall South constituency in each year since 2008;
	(2)  how many work capability assessments were carried out by Atos Healthcare in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Walsall South constituency in each year since 2008;
	(3)  how many people have been declared fit to work by Atos Healthcare after taking the work capability assessment in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Walsall South constituency in each year since 2008.

Mark Hoban: Decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) rest entirely with the Department's decision makers, taking into account the medical assessment reports from Atos and any other relevant information.
	Information on new ESA claims in Great Britain is already published and can be found at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
	Table 2a of the above report presents the outcomes of initial functional assessments completed between October 2008 and May 2012, the latest data available and table 2b presents the outcomes of repeat functional assessments completed during the same period.
	Table 1 as follows presents the outcomes of initial functional assessments for new ESA claims completed in England between October 2008 and May 2012, by the year the assessment was completed.
	
		
			 Table 1: Initial functional assessments for new ESA claims completed in England between October 2008 and May 2012 
			 Number 
			 Date assessment completed Support group Work-related activity group Fit for work Any outcome 
			 October to December 2008 300 100 300 700 
			 January to December 2009 26,200 61,600 161,000 248,700 
			 January to December 2010 37,200 105,400 218,100 360,700 
			 January to December 2011 59,200 79,300 156,200 294,700 
			 January to May 2012 34,900 32,600 83,000 150,500 
			 Total 157,900 278,900 618,500 1,055,300 
			 Note: All volumes are rounded to the nearest 100. Hence totals may not sum exactly. 
		
	
	Table 2 as follows presents the outcomes of repeat functional assessments completed in England between October 2008 and May 2012, by the year the assessment was completed.
	
		
			 Table 2: Repeat functional assessments completed in England between October 2008 and May 2012 
			 Number 
			 Date assessment completed Support group Work-related activity group Fit for work Any outcome 
			 October to December 2008 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 January to December 2009 800 1,900 1,400 4,100 
			 January to December 2010 9,600 43,500 25,900 79,100 
			 January to December 2011 40,300 82,900 53,300 176,600 
			 January to May 2012 37,800 49,000 35,500 122,300 
			 Total 88,500 177,400 116,200 382,100 
			 (1) Indicates nil or negligible value. Note: All volumes are rounded to the nearest 100. Hence totals may not sum exactly. 
		
	
	Information on the reassessment of incapacity benefits claimants for employment and support allowance (ESA) at a national and local authority level is already published and can be found at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_ibr
	Table 1 of the above report presents monthly and quarterly breakdowns of outcomes, adjusted to account for the outcome of appeals. Table 2 of the above report gives a breakdown by local authority for all incapacity benefits claimants that were referred for reassessment before the end of February 2012. Please note that date of referral is used in the above report, whereas result date is used for initial and repeat WCAs for new ESA claims.
	Please note that constituency level information on the work capability assessment process is not available.

EDUCATION

Academies

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of converter academies have (a) formal and (b) other arrangements to help another school raise its performance.

Elizabeth Truss: As of 1 November 2012, 673 converter academies, or 35%, are working to help another school raise its performance through formal chain arrangements. A further 98 converter academies, or 5.1%, are accredited sponsors and are looking for projects. 74 converter academies, or 3.85% of the 1,920 converter total, have formal sponsor arrangements in place to help raise performance in another academy.

Children: Day Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the change in spending by local authorities on supporting graduate leaders in childcare settings since May 2010;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change in spending by local authorities on supporting the upskilling of the childcare and early education workforce since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: No such estimates have been made. Local authorities have had funding since May 2010 which they have been free to choose how to spend. This funding has, since 2011, included the Early Intervention Grant (EIG). Local authorities have had particular flexibility in how they use the EIG and have been able to use this to fund the improvements needed in their area. In 2012-13, the EIG is worth around £2.37 billion.

Children: Day Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many responses to the call for evidence for the Childcare Commission were from (a) individuals describing themselves as parents, (b) individuals describing themselves as childminders, (c) other individuals working in the sector, (d) owners and managers of child care settings, (e) trade bodies or unions, (f) organisations with an interest in child development and (g) employers not in the child care sector.

Elizabeth Truss: The call for evidence received 328 written responses. Respondents were invited to select the category which they considered best described them from the following list. The breakdown of responses is as follows:
	
		
			  Responses 
			 Parent/Carer 64 
			 Childminder 58 
			 Local Authority 48 
			 Nursery 35 
			 Sector Representative Body 28 
			 Other 22 
			 Breakfast/After-school Care Provider 19 
			 Pre-School/Playgroup 13 
			 Charity 11 
			 Consultant 7 
			 Children's Centre 6 
			 Holiday Care Provider 5 
			 Union/Membership Organisation 5 
			 Maintained School 4 
			 Nanny 2 
			 Independent School 1 
		
	
	The “Other” category includes women's groups, insurance and investment companies, child care voucher suppliers, researchers, and those who gave no information in response to this question.

Children: Day Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to increase flexibility within the childcare market.

Elizabeth Truss: In September 2012, we introduced new measures to make the early education programme for three and four year olds more flexible to enable more children to access their full entitlement. Parents can now take their child’s full 15 hour entitlement over a minimum of two days rather than the previous three days and new guidance allows local authorities to fund providers to deliver free hours between 7.00am and 7.00pm rather than 8.00am to 6.00pm, as was the case previously.
	Together with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department is currently looking at a range of issues relating to the affordability, availability and quality of childcare, through the childcare commission. We are considering ways in which to increase flexibility for providers within the childcare market, particularly through one of the key themes of the commission—identifying any regulation that burdens childcare providers unnecessarily because it is not needed for reasons of quality or safety.

Children: Day Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education from which budget his planned £100 million of capital funding for childcare providers expanding to provide nursery education for disadvantaged two year olds will be taken.

Elizabeth Truss: The funding has not come from a single budget but from efficient management of the Department's entire capital programme. Surpluses from more than one of the Department's centrally managed capital programmes in 2012-13 have been reallocated to local authorities early education programmes.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the cost was of preparing the report by Lord Carlile of Berriew on child protection in Doncaster.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Following publication of the Serious Case Review (SCR) overview report on the case of the 'J' children in Edlington, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), asked Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC to carry out an independent review of the issues arising from the case. The SCR did not meet the Secretary of State's expectations and he wanted to be confident that all the necessary lessons had been identified and improvements made.
	The direct cost of preparing Lord Carlile's report was £37,971. This covers payments to Lord Carlile's chambers, for his time and expertise and to two meeting venues in Doncaster at which Lord Carlile held a number of interviews with stakeholders.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the terms of reference were for Lord Carlile of Berriew in producing his report into child protection in Doncaster; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Lord Carlile was asked on 29 March 2012 to carry out an independent review of the Edlington case following full publication of the Serious Case Review.
	The full terms of reference were posted on the Department for Education's website in March 2012 along with information on the Serious Case Review Report—“J” Children in Edlington and can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/healthandwellbeing/safeguardingchildren/a00205927/serious-case-review-report-j-children-in-edlington
	In addition the full terms of reference can be found in annex 1 of the report.
	The review's main objective was to determine whether or not all the necessary lessons arising from the “J” children’ case had been identified and appropriate and sufficient action was being taken to ensure that all necessary improvements have been embedded in the practice of the council and its partners.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many serious case reviews have been (a) commissioned, (b) published in full and (c) published with an executive summary only since June 2010.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have statutory responsibility for undertaking and publishing Serious Case Reviews (SCRs). The information the hon. Member has requested that this Department holds is based on information we have received to date from individual LSCBs.
	From that information we understand that 147 SCRs have been initiated by LSCBs since June 2010. Of the 80 SCRs that we understand have been completed, 28 SCR overview reports have been published by LSCBs having first been anonymised and redacted in line with statutory guidance. We know of four SCRs where only the executive summary has been published.
	We are frustrated that more SCRs have not been published. We will consider all available options, including legislation, to ensure that SCRs are initiated and published where appropriate.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on bringing forward legislative proposals to require local safeguarding children's boards to commission more serious case reviews.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 26 November 2012
	We are committed to ensuring that serious case reviews are undertaken where appropriate and are published so that the lessons from tragic incidents lead to improvements in practice. This is a fundamental part of the Government's ambition to improve the child protection system and bring about long lasting reforms to help vulnerable children.
	The current criteria for when a serious case review should be initiated are clearly set out in statutory regulations. Over the summer we consulted on revising relevant statutory guidance (“working Together to Safeguard Children”) including setting out those criteria more clearly in guidance. We are currently analysing those responses.
	We will continue to keep under review the number of serious case reviews that are both initiated and published. We will consider all available options, including legislation, to ensure that serious case reviews are initiated and published where appropriate.

Children's Centres

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of Sure Start children's centres which have ceased providing on-site day care since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: In the past, children's centres in the most disadvantaged areas but not elsewhere were required to provide full day care. In 2010, the Government removed the requirement for children's centres in the most disadvantaged areas to provide full day care where there was no demand.
	The Department for Education collects information on the provision of child care through the annual Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey. This information allows us to estimate the number of Sure Start children's centres providing full day care provision on site. Estimates from the survey show that in 2010 the number of children's centres providing on-site full day care was 800 and that in 2011 this figure had fallen to 550. The 2011 survey indicates that increases in the broader supply of full day care provision may have impacted on demand for provision specifically based in children's centres. The survey estimates that between 2010 and 2011 the number of full day care providers increased from 16,700 to 17,600.

Early Intervention Grant

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment of the planned transfer of the early intervention grant to the Department for Communities and Local Government;
	(2)  for what reason the Government proposes to transfer the early intervention grant to the Department for Communities and Local Government;
	(3)  which Minister in his Department is responsible for Sure Start and early intervention policy;
	(4)  whether his Department will retain policy responsibility for Sure Start and early intervention when the early intervention grant is transferred to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education will retain policy responsibility for Sure Start and early intervention. I am the Minister responsible for Sure Start policy. Early intervention is a cross-cutting policy area across a wide range of the Department's responsibility, and responsibility is shared between Ministers.
	From April 2013, the Government will be introducing a business rates retention scheme to put a strong financial incentive for economic growth at the heart of the local government funding system.
	The Government intend to roll in a number of currently separate grant funding streams, including the Early Intervention Grant, through the new Business Rates Retention Scheme. This will maximise the size of the local share, thereby increasing the financial incentive for local authorities to drive forward economic growth. It also provides greater local flexibility and freedom for local authorities to make decisions and manage budgets efficiently.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government published in July an equalities impact assessment alongside their technical consultation on the Business Rates Retention Scheme.
	The impact of rolling in these grants will be further to simplify and decentralise funding. Councils will be incentivised to support additional business growth through increased economic activity, which local communities will benefit from. This will mean that councils will be encouraged to foster good relationships with all businesses in their community.
	The impact assessment is available at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/businessratesequality

Offshore Employment Companies

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the use of offshore employment companies in the supply of public sector workers in his Department and its associated public bodies.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not use offshore employment companies to supply it with public sector workers. Where it is deemed appropriate to use companies to supply public sector workers, the Department utilises the services of suppliers from Cabinet Office Frameworks.

Extended School Services

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to encourage schools to (a) provide and (b) host (i) breakfast clubs, (ii) after school clubs and (iii) holiday activities since the end of his Department's funding for wraparound childcare.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government want schools to decide which extended services to offer based on the contribution they are making to improving pupil outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. The funding for extended services was mainstreamed into the Dedicated Schools Grant from April 2011 following the spending review.
	The Childcare Commission is looking at how to improve the accessibility of child care for working families. This will include child care for the over-fives, particularly the wrap-around child care that many families need before school, after school and in the holidays. The intention is to identify ways to enable parents and other volunteers to set up the schemes they want in their area; and to promote partnerships between schools and voluntary and private providers. The Commission will report later in the autumn.

GCSEs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children achieved (a) five A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics and (b) two or more A grades at A level in each local education authority (LEA) in each of the last three years, by ethnic origin and classification of the LEA as (i) selective, (ii) partially selective and (iii) comprehensive; and what the average proportion of children in each category was in each year, by ethnic origin.

Elizabeth Truss: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.(1)
	There is no recognised term whereby local authorities would be classed as wholly 'comprehensive'. All remaining authorities would consist of those with no, or few selective schools.
	(1) Local authorities that are classed as wholly 'selective' have been highlighted in the tables.

Home Education: Government Assistance

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to support parents who wish to home-teach their children.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government respect the right of parents to educate their children at home. Parents who home educate their children have always taken on the full responsibility for their education. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that provision set out in statements for children with special educational needs is met, including for those who are home educated. Local authorities also have wider duties towards children in their area who have special educational needs, and can support home educators in providing for such children. From 2013-14, parents of home educated young people wishing to send their child to a further education college will be able to register directly with the college without needing to seek the agreement of the local authority.

Outdoor Education

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children are able to carry out play and learning outside the classroom when the only available facilities are located some distance from the school site.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government recognises the positive contribution that learning outside the classroom and play can make to pupils' study and development as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. However, individual schools are best placed to determine how to include such experiences in their curriculum.

Pay

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many employees in his Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 20 November 2012
	The number of staff employed in the Department, paid in excess of £80,000 and £100,000 respectively, is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Number of DFE staff earning £100,000 and over 19 
			 Number of staff earning between £80,000 and £100,000 70

Primary Education

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the Prime Minister's press statement of 12 November 2012, if he will place in the Library a list of the 400 primary schools he intends should be required to convert into primary academies.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Department is in discussion with a range of schools nationally where we believe sponsored academy status would bring about the transformational change required. It is not our policy publicly to name schools where we would like to explore academy options. We believe this has the potential to disrupt the process of school improvement at the schools concerned, and may cause negative publicity that will distress parents, staff and pupils.

Pupils: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what funding his Department has contributed to the construction by Capita of its One pupil database;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Capita on the security of the data held by Capita on its One pupil database;
	(3)  who has access to the data held on the Capita One pupil database; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many pupil records are held on the Capita One pupil database; and what categories of information are held.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 19 November 2012
	The Capita One system is not a responsibility of the Department for Education. It is a commercially available system that Capita provide to meet the management information needs of their local authority customers. The Department does not fund this system nor have we had discussions relating to data security.

Schools: Counselling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the Welsh Government's decision to make it a statutory duty for local authorities in Wales to provide school-based counselling in all secondary schools through the School Standards (Wales) Bill; and if he will consider introducing similar measures for local authorities in England;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the findings of the Welsh Government's report entitled Evaluation of the Welsh School-based Counselling Strategy: Final Report published in November 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Evaluation of the Welsh School-based Counselling Strategy shows the importance of supporting young people who are unhappy, unwell or struggling with their family life. Good head teachers know this. Ofsted evidence also shows schools whose pupils do well academically recognise the importance of childrens' wider development and well-being.
	In July 2012 the “No Health Without Mental Health Implementation Framework” was published, which describes the role that both schools and local authorities should play in supporting children and young people's mental health and well-being. It is for them to decide how best to support the children and young people in their care.

Schools: Governing Bodies

Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the payment of school governor's expenses from public funds.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 26 November 2012
	Governing bodies in maintained schools have the power to pay governors for any out of pocket expenditure necessarily incurred to enable them to carry out their governor duties. The Articles of Association for each academy set out the arrangements for the payment of governor expenses. Payment is at the discretion of the governors and subject to audit scrutiny by local authorities or external auditors, for maintained schools and academies respectively.

Schools: ICT

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Government secure intranet connects schools and academies with Government Departments and local authorities.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the extent to which the Government secure intranet connects schools and academies with Government Departments and local authorities.
	Schools and academies generally use the public internet to access online services from government. Schools generally have internet access provided via a regional broadband consortium (RBC), local authority or private provider, which is a more cost-effective method of accessing government services.

Secondary Education: Mental Health Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of secondary schools have a professional school counsellor in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Edward Timpson: The information requested is not collected centrally for England.
	Information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations of those countries.

Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he estimates the number of young people with a learning difficulty assessment to be higher or lower than the number who will receive an education, health and care plan after 2014.

Edward Timpson: We anticipate that the SEN reforms will not result in any significant change between the numbers of young people with learning difficulty assessments in the current system and those with education, health and care plans in the new system.

Special Educational Needs

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) children with special educational needs and (b) disabled children are educated in mainstream schools.

Edward Timpson: The available information on pupils with special educational needs is shown in the table. Information on disability is not collected.
	Information on pupils with special educational needs is published in the “Special Educational Needs in England, January 2012” Statistical First Release at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001075/index.shtml
	and in the “Children with Special Educational Needs: An Analysis—2012” Statistical Release at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d001092/index.shtml
	
		
			 All schools: number of pupils by special educational needs status(1,2), January 2012, England 
			  Pupils with statements of special educational needs(1) 
			  Pupils on roll(1) Number of pupils Placement of pupils(4) 
			 All schools 8,178,200 226,125 100 
			     
			 State-funded schools    
			 Maintained nursery 39,395 305 0.1 
			 State-funded primary(5,6) 4,217,000 58,535 25.9 
			 State-funded secondary(5,7) 3,234,875 62,630 27.7 
			 Maintained special(8) 91,590 88,230 39.0 
			 Pupil referral units(9) 13,495 1,610 0.7 
			     
			 Other schools    
			 Independent(10) 577,515 10,630 4.7 
			 Non-maintained special 4,325 4,185 1.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupils with special educational needs without statements(1,3) 
			  Number of pupils Placement of pupils(4) 
			 All schools 1,392,215 100 
			    
			 State-funded schools   
			 Maintained nursery 4,855 0.3 
			 State-funded primary(5,6) 721,120 51.8 
			 State-funded secondary(5,7) 591,985 42.5 
			 Maintained special(8) 2,435 0.2 
			 Pupil referral units(9) 9,195 0.7 
			    
			 Other schools   
			 Independent(10) 62,575 4.5 
			 Non-maintained special 50 0.0 
		
	
	
		
			  All pupils with special educational needs(1,2) 
			  Number of pupils Placement of pupils(4) 
			 All schools 1,618,340 100 
			    
			 State-funded schools   
			 Maintained nursery 5,155 0.3 
			 State-funded primary(5,6) 779,655 48.2 
			 State-funded secondary(5,7) 654,620 40.4 
			 Maintained special(8) 90,665 5.6 
			 Pupil referral units(9) 10,805 0.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Other schools   
			 Independent(10) 73,205 4.5 
			 Non-maintained special 4,235 0.3 
			 (1) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. (2) Includes pupils with a statement of special educational needs, at School Action and at School Action Plus. (3) Includes pupils at School Action and at School Action Plus. (4) Placement of pupils—the number of pupils with special educational needs expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils with special educational needs in all schools. (5) Includes middle schools as deemed. (6) Includes all primary academies, including free schools. (7) Includes city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including free schools. Includes all-through schools. (8) Includes general hospital schools and special academies. (9) Includes pupils registered with other providers and in further education colleges. (10) Includes direct grant nursery schools. Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: School Census

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether it remains his intention to include measures relating to special educational needs in a children's Bill in the current Session of Parliament.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 26 November 2012
	The Department is working to bring forward legislation relating to SEN in the current Session of Parliament. This legislation is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny.

Students: Plagiarism

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to tackle websites which offer to students essays or dissertations which they may submit as their own work.

Elizabeth Truss: We fully condemn any form of cheating. For exams taken in schools, the regulator, Ofqual, requires awarding organisations to put in place arrangements to ensure that students take responsibility for producing and submitting their own work and that schools put in place appropriate procedures to prevent and tackle plagiarism. Addressing plagiarism within universities is a matter for autonomous higher education institutions; it is a matter they take very seriously.
	The processes for moderating coursework and controlled assessment include a requirement for moderators to be able to detect and report incidents of plagiarism and unauthorised collusion. The Joint Council for Qualifications produces a set of policies and procedures on dealing with suspected malpractice in examinations and assessments. This includes information on plagiarism and the penalties that are associated with it. Ofqual has also published guidance to educate students, parents and carers, and teachers about plagiarism, including advice to teachers on how to detect plagiarism. Ofqual is keen to encourage people to report all incidents of cheating to the relevant exam board or to the regulator, so that appropriate action can be taken.

Teacher Training

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to ensure the adequate and systematic training in relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of (a) teachers and (b) officials in his Department working with children;
	(2)  what proportion of (a) teachers and (b) officials in his Department working with children have received training in relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not determine the content of teacher training but leaves it to training providers to design training programmes that enable teachers and trainee teachers to meet the teachers’ standards. The standards include clear expectations around tolerance of, and respect for, the rights of others, and the demonstration of good subject and curriculum knowledge. Teachers who work in rights respecting schools or who are responsible for citizenship or PSHE lessons can also access the many online materials that are available to improve their understanding of the UNCRC.
	The Department has taken a number of steps over the past year to raise awareness of the UNCRC among its officials, including several detailed training sessions for those involved in developing new policy or legislation. We do not keep a record of the proportion of staff involved in this ongoing work.